Business View Magazine | Volume 8, Issue 10

131 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 8, ISSUE 10 FIRST BANK “Personal Bankers. Real Relationships” R elationships and personal service are a key part of doing business for First Bank, a community bank with 16 branches throughout the state of New Jersey. Its story begins in 2008, with a recapitalization of the original First Bank, a small bank in Southern New Jersey. After moving headquarters to a more familiar hub in the central part of the State, First Bank continued to evolve into the thriving financial leader it is today. According to President and CEO Patrick L. Ryan, “A lot of a lot of our growth has been organic, reconnecting with friends and former customers in the New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania market. In 2009/2010 when a lot of banks were tightening up on credit, that was a unique time to go out and grow the business and build it.” Over the last 13 years, First Bank has seen strong growth with four whole bank acquisitions and several other small deals completed. Ryan adds, “As a result of natural growth in the acquisitions, we’re now up to 16 branches, with a little under First Bank has been named one of Philadelphia Business Journal’s Soaring 76 for three years running