Apr 27, 2018 By For The Greene County Messenger 6 min read

WAYNESBURG – Since 1924, First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Greene County has served the residents of Southwestern Pennsylvania through a combination of traditional deposit and loan products and evolving technological convenience.

From checking and savings accounts to mortgage and home equity loans, from online bill pay to mobile banking, First Federal offers a variety of services to its customers, all while remaining committed to being “The People You Know, The People You Can Trust.”

Based in Waynesburg, First Federal maintains eight offices in Greene, Fayette and Washington counties and a loan origination subsidiary, First Greene Service Corporation, in Morgantown, W.Va.

Over the last nine decades, First Federal has grown to an $892 million financial institution. In 2017, the Association closed more than $89 million in loans, increasing its net outstanding loans by $10 million to $622.5 million. During the same time, deposits increased to $756 million. Last September, the Association began to offer an 18-month certificate special.

“We understand that we have experienced lean times with the rates offered by us, and others, on certificate products,” says Judi Goodwin Tanner, President/CEO of First Federal. “We appreciate our depositors who have remained with us and enabled us to continue to invest in our communities, the true mission of a savings and loan.”

Due to its enduring stability, First Federal earned a 5-Star rating, the highest in the industry for financial strength, from Bauer Financial, the nation’s leading independent bank and credit union rating and research firm. This superior rating has been awarded to the Association for the past 118 quarters.

As mortgage operations grew, the need for more physical space for staff became critical. Last May, First Federal opened the doors of its new two-story, 6,500 square-foot mortgage operations center, built on property adjacent to its home office at 25 E. High Street in Waynesburg.

The site was once home to the Allison building, which is widely known as the birthplace of the Waynesburg holiday, Rain Day. The Allison building stood for more than 100 years before it fell into serious disrepair. First Federal purchased the property in 2013 and razed the building after determining that it unfortunately could not be saved. The focus then turned to rebuilding. From the green roof to the red brick, the new construction closely resembles and pays homage to the original building.

A grand opening celebration, including a ribbon cutting and dedication of a special plaque honoring the history of Rain Day, was held July 28. In addition to Rain Day, the project had even more significance for the area – it was the first newly constructed building in Waynesburg Borough’s downtown business district in decades.

“We are honored that with one building we not only expanded our physical footprint and services for our valued customers, but also furthered the legacy of a Waynesburg tradition,” Tanner says.

In addition to constructing a new property, First Federal remains committed to putting dilapidated homes into the hands of those who can repair them. In March 2017, First Federal donated a house in the southeastern part of the county to the Greene County Redevelopment Authority, which renovated and is in the process of selling the home. This type of transformation is key to First Federal’s philosophy of creating positive change in its communities, helping create opportunities for first-time home ownership and making improvements to the area’s economic health.

First Federal has also honored its own history by celebrating its offices’ anniversaries. In 2017, the Uniontown Drive-Thru marked 30 years of service, while the Taylorstown office celebrated 10 years. This year, two more offices have special anniversaries that are important milestones in First Federal’s history and growth. The Downtown Uniontown office will mark its 60th anniversary after opening in 1958. It was the second- ever First Federal office and the first expansion into Fayette County. The Morgantown subsidiary, First Greene, has been open for 30 years this year and was the Association’s first foray into West Virginia.

With technology now such an integral part of banking, First Federal remains committed to evolving with consumer needs and convenience. Updates are expected in 2018 to the Association’s mobile banking application and loan origination software, and cyber security, privacy, fraud and regulatory issues will continue to be closely monitored.

First Federal remains committed to community support and outreach and employee volunteerism. The Association supports charities and nonprofits in a variety of ways, with a focus on health issues and education.

In the last few years alone, efforts by staff in nine branches have raised tens of thousands of dollars for non-profits. First Federal has historically supported several nationwide groups such as the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association, and has partnered in the last few years with other regional and local organizations also focused on community health issues.

“We often find that our employees participate in and support causes with which they have a personal connection,” said Charles W. Trump, Jr., First Federal Executive Vice President/Secretary.

Employees fundraise for their counties’ Relay For Life events to fight cancer and host “Go Red for Women” days to help raise awareness about women’s heart health.

Employees also display a dedication to environmental health and take great pride in maintaining the natural beauty of rolling hills and ridges. First Federal encourages the caretaking of local highways and byways as part of the Great American Cleanup of PA. Every spring, employees donate time to clean a section of road the Association has adopted near the main office in Waynesburg.

First Federal also assists with educational costs for higher education. In 2017, seven area high school graduates were selected to receive a $1,000 renewable scholarship for a maximum of four years. Funding is made possible through the First Federal Scholarship Fund, which awards up to eight randomly selected eligible students each year. Eligible students must reside in Greene, Fayette or Washington counties; have been accepted full-time to an accredited educational facility; and maintain an Education Club savings account with minimum regular deposits. The Waynesburg and Uniontown offices each randomly draw up to four students every year. Since the scholarship program’s inception in 2001, First Federal has awarded more than $300,000 in funds for students in the tri-county region.

In March 2018, First Federal received a “Grow Your Community” award in the area of “Community Impact” from the Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers.

According to PACB, the award program is designed to honor member financial institutions that impact their communities in meaningful ways and whose involvement exceeds normal business practices. Entries were judged on their IMPACT – Implementing Meaningful Projects and Activities – to help build the Communities of Tomorrow. First Federal has previously received this award several times.

“We do consider ourselves to be good community neighbors,” said Liz Menhart, First Federal’s marketing coordinator. “We try to be good stewards of our blessings and give back to our communities.”