First Tennessee Bank is partnering with national nonprofit Operation HOPE to assist residents affected by the recent wildfires in East Tennessee.
Starting Dec. 5, First Tennessee will staff its branch at 300 East Main St. in Sevierville, TN, with financial wellbeing coaches from HOPE Coalition America, Operation HOPE’s national emergency preparedness and financial recovery division. Services will include financial counseling, small business recovery, help obtaining destroyed documents and assistance with insurance claims and home inspection and repair contracts.
The counseling services will be free and available to the public at First Tennessee’s Sevierville branch weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
First Tennessee is supporting relief efforts in other ways, too:
- First Tennessee branches across the state are accepting donations from the public to support the East Tennessee relief efforts of the American Red Cross. The First Tennessee Foundation will match those contributions made by December 31, 2016 up to a total of $50,000. People may also mail checks payable to the American Red Cross to: Corporate Communications, First Tennessee, P.O. Box 84, Memphis, TN 38101. So far more than $20,000 in donations have been received.
- Loan customers in the Sevier County wildfire areas can apply for the First Tennessee Assistance Program for consumer and commercial clients. To learn more about the program, call (800) 382-5465.
- The Employee Relief Fund is available for First Tennessee employees impacted by the wildfires. More information is available on the bank’s Intranet.
“First Tennessee is proud to be Tennessee’s bank and we want to offer support to those in our communities who have suffered loss,” said Pam Fansler, First Tennessee president in East Tennessee. “Our thoughts and prayers are with our customers, friends and neighbors who have been affected by this tragedy.”