Business View Magazine | August 2020

109 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE AUGUST 2020 F I RST FEDERAL SAV INGS & LOAN ASSOC I AT ION already occurring. For instance, we have a smart phone app where you can deposit your check by mobile deposit. In the first month of this COVID-19 environment, we saw a 45 percent increase in the use, and I suspect that usage will remain high. We expect there will be an increase in adoption of our digital products, overall.” The bank’s marketing strategy revolves around being current and in front of its ideal customer. First Federal is active on social media platforms, supports the local sports teams , is present at local events, and always looks to prioritize local vendors – combining traditional advertising opportunities with a digital approach. Staff members are encouraged to volunteer in the community through service days at local organizations, highway cleanups, and other worthwhile initiatives. Liddell reports, “Last year, our 90-plus employees totalled over 3,500 volunteer hours and our corporate donations exceeded $250,000. We were even able to do some volunteering during COVID. When everything was shut down, we reached out to our local non-profits and asked if there was anything our employees could take home. One fun project we did was to make candy leis for all of the graduation senior classes in our county. We wanted to celebrate their success and we like to keep busy. “ In 2019, the bank hired a full-time Community Impact Coordinator – a role that helps connect First Federal with local communities. “She has allowed us to push forward with our support of financial education in the school district,” says Liddell. “To provide digital learning resources for teachers in a fun game-like format for high school and middle school students. We also have a summer internship program with Linfield University, where we pair college students with local, non-profit organizations. That partnership allows non-profits to complete projects in a unique learning environment for a student. What’s on the horizon for First Federal?