Skip to main content
Find Your Local Branch
Back
Scroll to top

The T-Shirt Crews in Support of Local Businesses

Across The Carolinas 2 min read
We can help written on sticky note.

Ready to talk to an expert?

Find A Location Get In Touch

If it’s Friday at First Bank’s Albemarle branch on Highway 52, that means it’s t-shirt time for the staff. But not just any cotton pullovers will do. The shirts you’ll see are created by and branded for one of the small businesses in the area.

Anne Penney, Branch Manager at Hwy 52, says the idea, which was a suggestion from a customer, started to take shape in May of 2014.  “We thought it was a fantastic idea,” she says. “To be fair, we wear the shirts on a first-come, first-served basis, and once we have been through them all, we start the cycle over again.”

Many customers stop in on Fridays just to see whose shirts the employees are wearing.  Crystal Thompson owns Advertise It in Norwood, NC, one of the participating businesses. “It is amazing what First Bank is offering with advertising opportunities for their customers,” says Thompson. “It means a lot to know that our bank is just as excited about our business as we are.”

Shirted team members post new pictures in the branch lobby every week to further show their support and to set up a fun display. There are currently more than 20 businesses in the area that are participating, and they expect more will follow suit.

The idea spreads

Inspired by their colleagues in Albemarle, the branch associates in Beaufort, NC have also started sporting some new T’s on Fridays as well. “Since we have started doing this, I have a lot more chit chat going on in the branch,” says Melissa Burhenne, First Bank Customer Service Representative in Beaufort. “Even non-customers are very curious because people normally see us dressed up, so it is an obvious conversation starter.”

In addition to the shirts, the Beaufort branch has the business’ cards or flyers on hand for interested visitors. So far, it’s been as successful in their town as it is in Albemarle. “We have at least 4 more businesses who have ordered shirts for us,” says Burhenne.

With such a warm reception at both branches, soon the only problem the teams might have is drawer space!

Ready to talk to an expert?

Find A Location Get In Touch
Share:

You may be interested in...

First Bank is One of the Top Banks in the U.S.A. When searching for the top banks in the U.S., it is often smarter to work with a small community bank over a national bank. Small banks often have deeper connections to the community and are invested in the success of individuals and businesses. First Bank* is a community bank that provides a wide range of banking services to people living in North Carolina and South Carolina. Make First Bank Your Top Choice Recent data shows that community banking institutions make up 94% of all banks in the United States. This is largely due to the fact that local banks continue to serve an important role for small businesses, agricultural lending and the nation’s overall economic sector. According to Forbes, “Small banks serve the economy well: they provide reasonably safe places for savings and are a source of essential finance for households and businesses.” Since opening our first branch in 1935, First Bank has had a longstanding commitment to providing the right solutions for financial success. Today, First Bank has grown into a progressive bank network that serves people throughout North Carolina and South Carolina. More than 80 years after opening, First Bank’s focus remains the same: to be the best community bank in every community we serve and through every delivery channel we offer. Our Core Values Becoming one of the top banks in the U.S. does not come without creating a distinct mission, vision and set of core values. At First Bank, the following core values are also what differentiate us in a competitive market: Be committed to safety and soundness. Provide accurate, prompt, courteous service. Make it easy for our associates to deliver the best value to our clients, and easy for our clients to do business with us whenever, wherever, and however they choose. Help our clients and associates build and achieve goals. Our Services First Bank offers a wide variety of banking services, including: Personal checking and savings accounts Personal loans and credit  Business checking and savings accounts Business loans and credit Mortgages Digital banking Find a First Bank Near You With over 100 locations across NC and SC finding a First Bank near you is simple. Visit our Location Finder and type in your city and state or zip code. Or, 3 min read
kids coloring a playing First Bank and Northern Moore Family Resource Center – “Dream It. Do It.” First Bank has partnered with Northern Moore Family Resource Center (NMFRC) for the final quarter of its "Dream It. Do It." contest. 1 min read
Close up image of fresh produce. How Local Produce Leads to Local Innovation When you take a bite of an apple or dig into some leafy greens, do you ever think about where they came from and how they were grown? With the wealth of information available via the Internet, wary consumers in North Carolina (and beyond) are getting invested in and engaged with where and how their food is produced, from the chemicals involved to the methods used to get the goods from the farm to their forks. It’s no surprise that many are finding it’s often more beneficial for their bodies, their families, and their communities to purchase food products from local farms. Paul Jones, Media Marketing Specialist of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, explains that the interest in organic, locally grown food is nothing new in North Carolina. “Agriculture has such a rich heritage in North Carolina and continues to be the state’s top industry,” he explains. “I think both those factors contribute to our strong interest in local food.” But the rebirth of the farm-to-table movement nationally has been “tremendously beneficial” to farms that dot the state, says Jones. One such business is Pine Knot Farms located in Hurdle Mills, North Carolina. Pine Knot Farms: Organic Original The Orange County farm was originally built for large tobacco crops but is now known more for its certified organic vegetables including collards, kale, and sweet potato greens. Owner Stanley Hughes and his wife, Linda Leach Hughes, are proud to carry on the century-old tradition of organic farming that started when Stanley’s grandfather purchased the land in 1912. “Back in the day, they were farming organically, but there was no term for it,” says Linda. “It was just the way things were done. This land is over 100 years old and has never had any chemicals on it.” Stanley says that the local movement has led to increased demand of Pine Knot’s organic products. “We’ve seen an increase of 15-25% a year in the last 10 years because folks are more educated about what they eat.” Buying Local Helps Local Economies And they are not alone. The Hughes say they have seen many other farms benefiting from consumers who keep their food spending within the community. “It’s helped them to maintain 5 min read
Business Spotlight: Read's Uniforms Video Business Spotlight: Read’s Uniforms High-quality uniforms help students and professionals feel better about themselves. Find out how Asheville-based retail and business-to-business company Read’s Uniforms is providing attentive customer service and a superb shopping experience. 3 min read
First Bank logo
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognizing you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website are the most popular and useful.