First Federal Bank Hires Industry Veteran Rob Hughes As President of its SBA Lending Division

LAKE CITY, Fla., Feb. 13, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- First Federal Bank, headquartered in Lake City and with full-service banking offices in Florida's Panhandle, North Central Florida, and coastal South Carolina, today announced the hiring of government guaranteed lending veteran Rob Hughes as president of its SBA lending division.

Hughes will lead the bank's government guaranteed lending group, which offers U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loan programs, as well USDA Business and Industry loans. First Federal has SBA and USDA lending offices throughout Florida and in multiple states. Expansion of First Federal's government guaranteed lending division supports the bank's purpose to continue to provide stability to the surrounding communities.

Hughes joins First Federal from SBA Works LLC, a company he founded to assist banks in Georgia and Florida in government guaranteed lending. SBA Works, under Hughes' leadership, has closed over $250 million in loans for banks in Georgia and Florida since 2011. Hughes is a graduate of Valdosta State University and attended the University of Georgia Banking School. He began his banking career in internal auditing and commercial lending before moving to government guaranteed lending.

"We welcome Rob to First Federal and look forward to his contributions in helping expand our capabilities and expertise in government guaranteed lending," said Robert Turbeville, executive vice president and chief lending officer of First Federal Bank. "Rob's deep experience and solid business relationships in the industry will be assets in terms of both leadership and business development as we continue to grow our government guaranteed lending group. We look forward to him being a trusted advisor to our small business communities."

First Federal has been repeatedly recognized as one of the SBA's highest ranked community bank lenders in Florida in total dollar volume and number of loans.

About First Federal
First Federal Bank is a community bank that was founded in the heart of North Florida in 1962 as First Federal Savings and Loan of Live Oak. Today, First Federal is a $1.8 billion-asset institution offering a full line of personal and business financial solutions, services, and loans through full-service banking offices in Florida's Panhandle, North Central Florida, and coastal South Carolina. In addition, First Federal has mortgage lending offices in Florida, across the Southeast and Midwest, and SBA and USDA lending offices throughout Florida and in multiple states. First Federal is a mutual savings bank and continues to receive a "5-Star, Superior" financial rating from BauerFinancial, Inc., of Coral Gables, Fla. For more information, visit www.ffbf.com.

SOURCE First Federal Bank