Chamber Series: Meet Our Members 1st Franklin Financial

1st Franklin Financial has been helping our friends and neighbors do life since 1941 and a member of your Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce since 1963. Ben F. Cheek, Jr.’s first office was located on Doyle Street in downtown Toccoa, in the upstairs area of the building which is now home for Ionosphere Travel Agency. He made his first loan of $34 not realizing that today his legacy would hold an Investment Center, Executive offices, Training Facilities, Loan Offices spanning 6 states, and four generations of family leadership. While interviewing Chairman Buddy Cheek and current President & CEO Ginger Cheek Herring, we ask what their favorite thing was about doing business in Toccoa-Stephens County. Ginger quickly answered, “This is home. Our customers know us, but more importantly, we know them. No matter the circumstance in life our commitment to our customers remains the same.”

After seeing how the leadership interacts with the staff and hearing about their fun celebrations and camaraderie in the office it is evident that 1st Franklin feels strongly about supporting the communities where they live and work. Check out their social media and you will find photos and memories of their staff at community events, participating in charity 5K runs/walks, collecting items for local food banks, and applying their time and energy where there is a local need.

When asked about a “Fun Fact” that our community may not know Buddy walks into his office and pulls a notice off his wall. He continued with this story, “In 1946, Ben F. Cheek, Jr. purchased Blue Ridge Construction Company and after a few years realized he was better at the investing side than the construction side. He then sold the construction company to Troy L. Bowen, Sr. who partnered with Harold L. W. Watson and together they transformed their partnership into the oldest and largest general contracting company in Northeast Georgia, which we know today as Bowen & Watson based in Toccoa.”

All these stories and pictures circle back to one word, home. Even though 1st Franklin Financial has grown to over 300 locations in 6 states, Toccoa-Stephens County is home.