First Fed

09/01/2026

September brings another great group of milestones to celebrate across !

This month, we’re recognizing team members marking anniversaries from 1 year all the way to an incredible 45 years with First Fed. Their experience, commitment, and contributions help us serve our customers and communities every day.

Liz Trowbridge – 45 years
Bobbi Stringer – 19 years
Christie Sharpe – 17 years
Baysh Farley – 14 years
Amanda Sanchez – 13 years
Nicole Pruden – 12 years
Jami Peterson – 11 years
Alex Anderson – 10 years
Della Rygaard – 7 years
Kayla Christensen – 5 years
Simran Chaturvedi – 5 years
Leandra Schmitt – 3 years
Nico Winegar – 3 years
Dawn Schultz – 2 years
Curt Queyrouze – 1 year
Emma Hines – 1 year
Melissa K. Smith – 1 year

Congratulations to all of our September anniversary team members! We appreciate all you do to make First Fed a great place to work and bank.

08/31/2026

Meet Candice Cotterill, our Port Townsend Branch Manager and recipient of the 2025 Wills Award, First Fed’s highest honor recognizing exceptional service to the community.

Candice has dedicated countless hours to giving back, with a special passion for supporting local youth. For the past 11 years, she has served on the board of East Jefferson Little League, and today she serves on an incredible nine boards and committees throughout her community.

Her commitment to showing up, getting involved, and giving her time to others is a wonderful example of what it means to put community first.

Watch Candice’s story and learn more about First Fed’s commitment to community: ourfirstfed.com/community

08/28/2026

It was an exciting day in Port Hadlock as Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County broke ground on the new Mason Street Neighborhood!

Members of our First Fed team joined community partners to celebrate the start of this transformative project. When complete, the Mason Street Neighborhood will include 138 permanently affordable homes, creating more opportunities for local families and individuals to put down roots in East Jefferson County.

Congratulations to Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County and everyone helping bring this vision to life. We’re excited to see this new neighborhood take shape!

Learn more about the Mason Street Neighborhood: habitatejc.org/mason-street

08/27/2026

For more than 30 years, Port Townsend Cabinet Company has been creating handcrafted custom cabinetry right here in Port Townsend, bringing quality craftsmanship and attention to detail to every project.

“When looking to finance our new building, we wanted to work with a local bank that was as invested in our community as we are. Susan Whitmire and her team at First Fed Bank were there to personally guide us through the loan process and ultimately make our dream of building our own cabinet shop possible! We couldn’t have done it without them.”
–Steven Horstmann, Owner, Port Townsend Cabinet Company ⁠
porttownsendcabinets.com

Thank you, Steven, for trusting Susan and the First Fed team to help bring your vision to life. We’re honored to support local businesses like Port Townsend Cabinet Company as they grow and invest in our communities.

Ready to take the next step for your business? Learn how First Fed can help: ourfirstfed.com/business

08/27/2026

Join our team in Bellingham!

First Fed is hiring for a variety of roles at our Bellingham branches. With competitive pay starting at $19.80/hour*, generous PTO, comprehensive benefits, and a supportive team environment, there are plenty of reasons to grow your career with First Fed.

Whether you’re just getting started or ready for your next opportunity, you’ll be part of a community-focused team where you can learn, grow, and make a difference.

Explore our Bellingham openings and other opportunities at First Fed: www.ourfirstfed.com/careers

*Pay ranges vary by position and location. Please see individual job postings for details.

08/25/2026

Congratulations to Bremerton Foodline on receiving a grant from the First Fed Foundation!

Bremerton Foodline helps reduce food insecurity by connecting neighbors with the food and resources they need while bringing community partners together to support those facing difficult times.

First Fed Foundation is honored to support their work and the important role they play in strengthening Kitsap community.

Learn more about Bremerton Foodline: bremertonfoodline.org

08/20/2026

A big thank you to Jorge Alvarez, Ferndale Branch Manager, and our Whatcom County team members who helped support this year’s Stuff the Bus drive, led by Opportunity Council!

Together, our Whatcom County community donated more than 4,500 essential items, including 100 containers of laundry detergent, 470 toothbrushes, 150 backpacks, and 100 pairs of shoes for local children and families.

Thank you to everyone who donated and to our team members who helped collect and deliver the items. It was incredible to see the community come together to make such a difference!

08/19/2026

We’re celebrating another month of incredible milestones across !

This August, we’re recognizing team members who have reached work anniversaries ranging from 1 year to more than two decades with First Fed. We appreciate the experience, dedication, and care they bring to our customers and teammates every day.

Jason Robinson – 21 years
Melissa Waggoner – 19 years
Chuck Tollefson – 12 years
Mike Anderson – 10 years
Sara Myers – 8 years
Sarah Barker – 8 years
Sylvia Hatch – 7 years
Diana Henley – 6 years
Jennifer Chaussee – 6 years
Kaitlyn Fudally – 6 years
Alison Fykerud – 5 years
Eli Hotchkiss – 5 years
Kyle Henderson – 3 years
Kristen Guzardo – 1 year

Congratulations to all of our August anniversary team members, and thank you for everything you bring to First Fed!

08/18/2026

Banking scams are becoming more sophisticated, but a few simple habits can go a long way toward protecting your money.

Angela Saffery, our Silverdale Branch Manager, recently shared her expertise with Kitsap Daily News, offering practical tips to help you recognize today’s most common banking scams, spot the warning signs, and protect yourself before scammers have a chance to succeed.

Take a few minutes to give it a read (subscription may be required): https://bit.ly/4zFKMFA

For more tips on protecting your money and personal information, visit our Security & Fraud Awareness resource page: https://bit.ly/4wCuwD6

Whether it’s a text about suspicious account activity, a phone call claiming to be from your bank, or an urgent message demanding immediate action, scammers keep finding new ways to trick people into giving away money and personal information.

08/17/2026

One of the things we love most about the Olympic Peninsula is what can happen when people come together around a shared vision.

This recent opinion piece in the Seattle Times shines a light on the organizations, leaders, and community partners working to create new opportunities and strengthen the future of Port Angeles and the Olympic Peninsula. It’s a great reminder of what’s possible when communities invest in one another.

We’re honored to be part of a region that continues to lead with collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to making a lasting difference.

Take a few minutes to give it a read: https://bit.ly/4qobf6i

Too often, Washington has treated rural places as problems to be managed rather than assets to be invested in.