First Federal Bank Welcomes NOLA Lending Group

First Federal Bank (Florida) and Fidelity Bank, (Louisiana), jointly announced today that they have signed a definitive agreement for First Federal to acquire Fidelity's mortgage division, NOLA Lending Group.

First Federal Bank will continue to service loans from existing locations in Georgia, Wisconsin, and Florida. As a community-based mutual institution headquartered in Lake City, Florida, the bank is owned by its customers rather than stockholders and has 27 branches in the Southeast and operations in the Midwest.

Under the terms of the agreement, First Federal Bank will purchase NOLA Lending Group assets and will continue to serve Fidelity customers from existing locations in Baton Rouge, Bossier City, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Mandeville, Metairie, Uptown New Orleans, New Orleans East, Pensacola (Florida), and McComb and Ridgeland (Mississippi). With the acquisition, First Federal will expand its retail mortgage services, extending the local, personalized mortgage service that Fidelity Bank customers have come to expect.

First Federal anticipates retention of most NOLA Lending Group employees and looks forward to welcoming the new team members. John Medina, President and CEO of First Federal Bank, shares: "Our mission is to provide mortgages from a financially stable institution that is a great place to work and bank. This acquisition underscores our commitment to the residential mortgage sector. We look forward to serving NOLA Lending Group mortgage customers with the same excellence they have come to expect from their team."

"We are pleased to have reached an agreement with a partner that will continue to allow our talented and dedicated team to focus on delivering exceptional mortgage banking solutions to customers in our core markets," said Chris Ferris, President and CEO of Fidelity Bank. "Fidelity Bank's strategic plan for 2026 includes a renewed focus on sound execution of banking, which will support shareholder value."

The acquisition of NOLA Lending Group allows First Federal Bank to better serve the customers of both organizations by offering additional technology tools and an expanded product offering. The platform is anticipated to transition to First Federal Bank within 60 days of closing, and the NOLA Lending Group branding will be retained. As customers have increased reliance on digital tools, First Federal will continue to invest in cutting-edge digital solutions coupled with personal service. "The NOLA Lending team uses largely the same technology as First Federal, which will make the transition simple for employees and customers," says Doug Brendel, Residential Division President. With steady, growth-oriented leadership, the bank and its mortgage division will continue to be recognized as one of the best banks in the Southeast and beyond.

The legal aspects of the transaction were handled by two firms, with Alston & Bird representing Fidelity Bank and Bradley Arant Boult Cummings representing First Federal Bank, whose counsel and collaboration were instrumental to the successful completion of the transaction.