MEMPHIS, Tenn., Aug. 19, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Tennessee Bank is renewing its commitment to the Orange Mound neighborhood, continuing a partnership between two of Memphis' iconic and historic institutions. First Tennessee, which has served Memphians for 151 years, wants to celebrate the past and support the future of 125-year-old Orange Mound, an historic center of African-American life and culture where First Tennessee has been a presence for 70 years.
On Aug. 21 First Tennessee will hold a grand re-opening of its updated Orange Mound branch at 2284 Lamar at Airways, which will feature a new center for financial empowerment for the neighborhood.
The celebration will mark the start of First Tennessee's Orange Mound art contest. Anyone is invited to submit artwork or photographs – suitable for framing and displaying in the First Tennessee Orange Mound center – that celebrate the people, places and traditions of Orange Mound. Entries should be dropped off at the First Tennessee Orange Mound financial center by Oct. 16 with the artist's name and contact information attached. Winners will be selected in late October, and each winning artist will receive $250 from First Tennessee.
The Orange Mound neighborhood, one of the nation's first planned African-American communities, sits in south-central Memphis and is home to dynamic institutions like Beulah Baptist Church, Greater Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, Melrose High School and Mt. Pisgah CME Church. First Tennessee's upgrade of its branch is a contribution to revitalization efforts underway in the tight-knit community.
"First Tennessee is proud to have been part of this historic neighborhood for 70 years," said David Popwell, president of banking for First Tennessee's parent company, First Horizon National Corp. "Our upgraded branch and partnership with Operation HOPE will expand access to services and increase financial empowerment for our customers and the residents of Orange Mound."
The grand re-opening of the First Tennessee Orange Mound branch will run from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on Aug. 21 and feature bank executives, including Popwell and First Horizon Chairman and CEO Bryan Jordan, and Operation HOPE executives, including John Hope Bryant, the organization's founder, chairman and CEO. Lunch will be provided. During the celebration, attendees will be able to share their memories, stories and thoughts about the community for a video First Tennessee is putting together in honor of Orange Mound's 125th anniversary.
First Tennessee has partnered with the national nonprofit organization Operation HOPE to offer free financial literacy workshops and one-on-one financial counseling at HOPE Inside offices inside First Tennessee branches. The first location opened earlier this year at First Tennessee's branch in the Crosstown neighborhood. Now the First Tennessee Orange Mound branch will host the second HOPE Inside office with a credit counselor on hand. First Tennessee originally planned five HOPE Inside offices across its markets, but based on early successes has decided to at least double that commitment.
HOPE Inside workshops offer information on budgeting, paying off debt, saving money, improving credit scores and consumer rights. One-on-one counseling sessions are available to workshop attendees. Workshops are offered at the First Tennessee HOPE Inside locations and can also be offered through community groups and employers by contacting First Tennessee's corporate communications group at (901)523-4352.
About First Tennessee
First Tennessee is part of the First Horizon National Corp. (NYSE:FHN) family of companies. The 4,300 employees of First Horizon provide financial services through more than 170 bank locations in and around Tennessee and 26 FTN Financial Group offices in the U.S. The company was founded during the Civil War in 1864 and has the 14th oldest national bank charter in the country. First Tennessee has one of the highest customer retention rates of any bank in the country, and FTN Financial is a capital markets industry leader in fixed income sales, trading and strategies for institutional customers in the U.S. and abroad. First Horizon has been recognized as one of the nation's best employers by Forbes, Working Mother and American Banker magazines. More information is available at www.FirstHorizon.com.
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