Skip to main content
_FB_2018-Icons-finalized-cleaned-up_new_FB_2018-Icons-finalized-cleaned-up_newGroup 9
Back
Scroll to top

2023 Awards and Accolades: Best Employer, Top Performing Bank, Top Civic-Minded Organization

Across The Carolinas 2 min read

Ready to talk to an expert?

Your Award Winning Bank

Awards naming First Bank as a Best Employer, Best Performing Bank, and Top Civic Minded Organization are just a few of the many accolades we earned in 2023. We are so grateful for all of our associates, customers, and community partners who inspire us to be the best.
Slide image.

Ready to talk to an expert?

Share:
First Bank’s Good To Know Logo
Sign up for our newsletter and be the first to know about new tips, insights, and products from First Bank.
First Bank may use this email address to contact you about products, services, and promotions.

You may be interested in...

List of Banks Headquartered in North Carolina The fact that North Carolina is home to a large number of banks might surprise you. Over the years, the Tar Heel state has become a hub for banks of all sizes. Many community banks, like First Bank,* are headquartered in North Carolina and are making a case for being a better choice. There’s no denying that huge corporate banks manage billions more than your local bank, but data indicates that community banks hold over $5 trillion in assets in the United States. This is because community banks have maintained an important place in the nation’s business and economic sector, especially for small business and agricultural lending. Why First Bank is the Bank for You First Bank opened its first branch in Troy, NC, in 1935, and since then has been committed to helping individuals, families, and small businesses achieve their short-term and long-term goals. To this day, we continuously strive to evolve and improve our services to meet the wide-ranging needs of our customers across the states of North Carolina and South Carolina.** With nearly 100 locations in NC, First Bank can be found in every major city, from the coast to the mountains. We have a range of mobile personal and business banking services*** available to you, as well as mortgage, loan, and credit options. So, if you’re looking for a bank headquartered in North Carolina, visit your local First Bank branch today. *Member FDIC ***While First Bank does not charge for mobile banking, your mobile carrier’s message and data rates may apply. Sources: NC Global Economy: http://www.ncglobaleconomy.com/banks/overview.shtml 2 min read
Image for tile. Southern Supreme Fruitcakes & More – Garage Startup to Global Distributer "I don't like Fruitcake" Not a fan of fruitcake? Neither was Berta Lou Scott until she perfected her version in the 1980s. Her Southern Supreme Fruitcakes have been converting fruitcake foes to fans ever since. Visit the Southern Supreme Fruitcake Online Store A Sweet Success Story Berta Lou Scott’s fruitcake started as Christmas gifts for her friends, family, and clients in their hometown of Bear Creek, NC. Mrs. Scott’s baked goods were always sought after throughout the holidays, but her fruitcake especially garnered attention for its ability to change the minds of those who claim to not like fruitcake. As demand for her fruitcakes increased Mrs. Scott’s late husband, Hoyt Scott, took out a small business loan to increase their production capacity. The Scott family tells their First Bank story like this: “It all started around 1989 when our father/father-in-law “Hoyt Scott” wanted to take out a small business loan. At that time Mr. Jimmie Garner was who we went to see. The story that Hoyt liked to tell was, “I didn’t know who the bigger fool was: the man who wanted to borrow the money to start a Fruitcake business or the man who would loan him the money.” That is what started our relationship with First Bank.” As it turns out they weren’t fools after all. Jimmie Garner went on to become the CEO of First Bank and Hoyt Scott (along with his family) grew Southern Supreme Fruitcakes from their garage to a 40,000 square foot manufacturing, distribution and retail operation where they attract thousands of tourists each year and ship their products globally.   Play Not your typical Fruitcake  Two big differences set Berta Lou Scott’s fruitcake apart from the rest. Her recipe favors nuts over candied fruit, and her method of slow baking and stirring the dough as it bakes keeps the cakes from becoming dry. In fact, Southern Supreme Fruitcakes will stay fresh and moist without refrigeration for 6 months to a year. This unique baking method has posed a unique set of challenges that the Scott Family has overcome with hard work and ingenuity – something that is on display throughout their manufacturing facility. Thousands of guests tour their kitchen yearly to get a first-hand view of the one-of-a-kind operation which involves a rotating oven that allows trays of dough to move from baking to hand-stirring every 15 minutes until complete. Teams of seasonal workers begin fruitcake production in August and at the height of the Christmas ordering season, they will slowly bake and stir over 3,000 pounds of fruitcake per day. Watch this video to see their kitchen in action > 4 min read