First Tennessee re-opens branch in Orange Mound

Lamar Ave. just got a little bit of HOPE from First Tennessee National Bank.
 
This month, the bank reopened the branch at 2284 Lamar and Airways with structural enhancements and a renewed dedication to serving the community.
 
The Orange Mound office will house a HOPE Inside financial empowerment center. Through this center, community members will receive free financial literacy classes, one-on-one financial counseling and support services to boost credit scores to at least 700.
 
This Lamar location marks the second Memphis location for nonprofit organization Operation HOPE. In January, First Tennessee opened a Hope Inside office at First Tennessee's branch in the Crosstown neighborhood. Already, participants have seen credit scores improve by 40 points.
 
First Tennessee had originally planned to add five HOPE Inside centers across its markets, but now the bank has pledged to at least double that commitment. The partnership with the nonprofit began in January of this year.
 
The Orange Mound branch also plans to serve as a gallery for area artists. Anyone is invited to submit artwork or photographs that celebrate the neighborhood to the First Tennessee Orange Mound art contest. Entries should be dropped off at the branch by October 16 with the artist's name and contact information attached. Winners will be selected later that month, and each selected artist will receive $250.
 
“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.”