New Freedom Federal Credit Union Branch Coming to Baltimore County – CEO Letter

May 3, 2021

Dear Freedom Members,

In July of last year, I wrote to you announcing that Freedom Federal Credit Union was expanding our field of membership to include Baltimore County. Over the last several months, that expansion has gone very well and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

In that announcement, I also made mention that we would look at opportunities to enhance access for our members, whether through technology or new, physical locations.

As a result of this, and through a comprehensive review, I am very happy to announce that Freedom will be opening a new branch in Baltimore County, in the Perry Hall/White Marsh area.
The new branch will be located at 5000 Honeygo Center Drive in the Honeygo Village Center, adjacent to Weis Markets, and across from AnyTime Fitness, and Liberatore’s Ristorante. This will be Freedom’s first branch in Baltimore County, and our sixth branch in total.

Our Honeygo Branch will feature a full-service lobby, two drive-thru lanes, a 24/7 ATM, a free coin machine, and will provide ample parking and easy traffic flow and access. Financial Service Representatives will be in-person, and onsite, to support all business and individual banking needs.

This is a significant step for our entire membership. Not only does it ensure that we provide a physical location to a thriving business and residential community that wants to do their banking in-person, but also provides us more ability to truly deliver on the Freedom Advantage, our unique service offering, to the Northeast Baltimore County communities.

Because of the way Freedom is structured, as a financial cooperative, the health and strength of the organization is dependent on the membership being engaged and utilizing our products and services. The more members that are an active part of Freedom, and using our products and services, the better the ability to offer lower cost loan options, higher deposit rates, better technology and more community support. We will be able to increase our membership, and better serve all our members, in both Harford and Baltimore County.

This past year has been a challenge for all of us. For Freedom, although much of it was focused on helping members through the pandemic, we decided to proceed with our planned expansion into Baltimore County, to give our members, and the communities we serve, more opportunities to conduct business, in the name of convenience and a better banking experience.

The Honeygo Branch, which formerly housed First National Bank, is currently undergoing renovations, and is expected to open to the public in late summer. I will share more details with you when plans are more formalized. In the meantime, please follow us on our Facebook page to see progress updates, and the latest information around the branch opening.

I want to thank all of you for your ongoing trust and confidence in Freedom, and I hope you share in my excitement regarding our new branch. I look forward to seeing you there!

Sincerely,

Michael MacPherson
President and CEO
Freedom Federal Credit Union

Freedom Federal Credit Union Opening New Branch in Perry Hall / White Marsh

May 3, 2021

The new branch will mark Freedom Federal Credit Union’s first Baltimore County location, and sixth location overall.

Freedom Federal Credit Union has announced plans to open a new full-service branch in the Perry Hall/White Marsh area. This is the Credit Union’s first branch in Baltimore County, and sixth branch within Northeastern Maryland. The new branch will be located at 5000 Honeygo Center Drive in the Honeygo Village Center, adjacent to Weis Markets, and across from AnyTime Fitness, and Liberatore’s Ristorante.

The branch will feature a full-service lobby, two drive-thru lanes, a 24/7 ATM, a free coin machine, and will provide ample parking and easy traffic flow and access. Financial Service Representatives will be in-person, and onsite, to support all business and individual banking needs.

The branch opening is the next step in Freedom’s expansion of their field of membership into Baltimore County, which the Credit Union announced in July 2020, following approval from the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). Since then, Freedom membership has been open to businesses and any individuals who live, work, worship, volunteer, attend school, or have family in Baltimore County. Freedom now serves all of Harford and Baltimore Counties.

The expansion into Baltimore County was a logical step in the Credit Union’s evolution. Freedom was already serving over 3,000 members that are Baltimore County residents and were able to join because of some affiliation with Harford County.

“This is a great milestone in Freedom Federal Credit Union’s history, as well as a monumental opportunity for our members, and the residents of both Baltimore and Harford Counties,” stated Mike MacPherson, President and CEO of Freedom. “The Honeygo Branch provides us our first physical space within Baltimore County, and ensures that we can truly deliver the ‘Freedom Advantage,’ our unique credit union service offering, to the greater Baltimore County communities. Not only will we be able to better serve a larger group of Maryland residents and businesses who we feel are currently being underserved, but we can better enhance the progress and growth of our Credit Union, which will benefit all our members going forward.”

Freedom Federal Credit Union was founded in 1953 as MATCOM Federal Credit Union. The Credit Union started in Baltimore and later moved to Harford County in support of the Edgewood Arsenal, which became part of Aberdeen Proving Ground. Freedom received their Harford County community charter in 1999 and changed their name to Freedom of Maryland Federal Credit Union in 2000.

MacPherson continued: “I think it’s important to emphasize that Freedom has not only risen to the challenge of the day, but even in the worst of times, continues to move forward in our vision and mission. While much of this last year has been focused on helping members through the pandemic, we decided to proceed with our expansion into Baltimore County, which will further allow us to offer lower cost loan options, higher deposit rates, better technology and access, and more community support across both Harford and Baltimore Counties. Our focus has been on expanding and enhancing every avenue and technology to allow our members more access to conduct business wherever needed, in-person, or online, all in the name of creating a better member experience.”

The new site in the Honeygo Village Center, which formerly housed First National Bank, is currently undergoing renovations, and is expected to open to the public in late summer with a grand opening event to be announced at a later date.

About Freedom Federal Credit Union

Freedom Federal Credit Union is a community-chartered federal credit union offering consumer financial services to those who live, work, volunteer, worship, attend school, or have family in Harford and Baltimore Counties. Additionally, Freedom offers a full-line of banking services for all businesses, associations, and other organizations that are based in Harford and Baltimore Counties. To learn more, visit freedomfcu.org.

#NationalNursesWeek

LET’s CELEBRATE NATIONAL NURSES week!

WIN A $25 Amazon eGIFT CARD FOR A HARFORD OR BALTIMORE COUNTY NURSE – 5 CHANCES TO WIN!

Look for our #NationalNursesWeek Nomination Post on our social media pages starting May 6th, 2021 running until 12 pm Wednesday, May 12, 2021.

If you are a nurse or would like to nominate a nurses who lives or works in Harford/Baltimore County…

1. POST the nurse’s name and agency/organization in the comments on our Facebook, Twitter , or Instagram (@FreedomFedCU) post
(Feel free to include a picture or comment about your nomination!)

2. FOLLOW our social media page

3. SHARE our social media post

We will draw a winner Wednesday, May 12th in the afternoon!

Full Contest Rules / Details

Visit us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to get started.

*Nurses may live and/or work in Harford or Baltimore County. Nurses are welcome to enter themselves. One nomination per person, but nurses can be entered multiple time by other individuals to increase their chances of winning.

#TeacherAppreciationWeek

LET’s CELEBRATE Teacher appreciation week!

WIN A $25 Amazon eGIFT CARD FOR A HARFORD OR BALTIMORE COUNTY TEACHER – 5 CHANCES TO WIN!

Teacher Appreciation Drawing — Look for this post on Freedom’s Social Media Accounts

Look for our #TeacherAppreciationWeek Nomination Post on our social media pages starting May 3rd, 2021 running until 12 pm Friday, May 7, 2021.

If you are a teacher or know a teacher who lives or works in Harford/Baltimore County…

1. POST the teacher’s name and school in the comments on our Facebook, Twitter , or Instagram (@FreedomFedCU) post
(Feel free to include a picture or comment about your nomination!)

2. FOLLOW our social media page

3. SHARE our social media post

We will draw a winner Friday, May 7th in the afternoon!

Full Contest Rules / Details

Visit us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to get started.

*Teacher may live and/or work in Harford or Baltimore County. Teachers are welcome to enter themselves. One nomination per person, but teachers can be entered multiple time by other individuals to increase their chances of winning.

2021 Annual Meeting

Join Us Virtually…

The 2021 Freedom Federal Credit Union Annual Meeting of Members will be a fully virtual meeting.

Date: Tuesday, April 13, 2021
Time: 4:00pm

To Register for the Virtual Annual Meeting, please Click Here.

Agenda:
2020 Business Summary / Chairman and CEO Remarks
2021 Business Update
Board Elections
Committee Reports
Approval of Minutes
New Business / Q&A

Register Here

Current Freedom Federal Credit Union membership is required to attend in this meeting.
Login instructions will be sent via email to all registrants closer to the meeting date.

Thank you for your membership in Freedom Federal Credit Union. We wish everyone continued health and safety.

Show Us Your Snow Day Pics

SHOW US YOUR Best Snow Day pics!

Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Look for our #SnowDay Photo Contest on our social media pages starting February 2, 2021 running until Friday, February 5, 2021.

If you live, work, worship, or have family in Harford or Baltimore County…

1. POST your photo in the comments on our Facebook or Twitter post
(Or direct message @FreedomFedCU on Instagram)

2. FOLLOW our social media page

3. SHARE our social media post

We will draw a winner Friday, February 5, at about 3pm!

Full Contest Rules and Details

Visit us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to get started.

Breathe 379 Wins Freedom Federal Credit Union’s #FreedomToHelpChallenge

Credit Union Awards $1,000 to Small Local Non-Profit to Support their Hope Center

Bel Air, MD – Freedom Federal Credit Union is pleased to congratulate Mike Nolan, Founder, Executive Director, and volunteer for Breathe 379, for winning the 3^rd annual #FreedomToHelpChallenge. The six-week social media contest called for entrants to post pictures celebrating Harford or Baltimore County volunteerism for a chance to win $1,000 and other weekly prizes for their local charity of choice. Each week individual volunteers and non-profit organizations posted pictures showcasing local volunteerism in an effort that reached all corners of the two counties. Weekly winners and the Grand Award winner were chosen during public voting periods on Freedom’s Facebook page.

“I have to be honest, I’m completely blown away by it. I wasn’t even going to enter thinking we didn’t have a chance to win, but on a whim, I posted a submission of our amazing volunteers, and our supporters took it from there. We are so grateful for the Freedom To Help Challenge, for giving us the opportunity to showcase and thank our volunteers, and for everything Freedom has done for us in the wake of winning, not just in donations, but with publicity for our cause,” stated Mike Nolan. “This award will now allow even more members of our community and beyond to be served by Breathe’s Hope Center! Thank you, Freedom Federal Credit Union, for helping us help others!”

Officially founded in 2016, Breathe 379 is based in the simple notion of helping others, whatever the need. Breathe’s Hope Center, based in Edgewood, Maryland, looks quite different from most food and clothing pantries, providing a relaxing environment and complimentary coffee bar to help ease stress and offer the hope that is very much needed in everyone’s life from time to time. The organization is probably best known for their B379 Toy Drive, which distributes thousands of toys to local Harford County children in need during the holidays.

Mike Nolan and volunteers Nick Nizer, Vice President and Manager of the Well at Breathe, Bailey Alampi, Manager of Bailey Sue’s Country Market at Breathe, and Cheryl Andrews, Manager of The Cabin at Breathe, were all recently honored in a check presentation held at Breathe’s Hope Center with the $1,000 grand award. The Hope Center is located at 2124 Nuttal Ave. in Edgewood, Maryland and is open each Wednesday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and the second Saturday of every month from 12 p.m. until 4 p.m. Learn more at breathe379.com.

About Freedom Federal Credit Union

Freedom Federal Credit Union is a community-chartered federal credit union offering consumer financial services to those who live, work, volunteer, worship, attend school, or have family in Harford or Baltimore County. Additionally, Freedom offers a full-line of banking services for all businesses, associations, and other organizations that are based in Harford or Baltimore County. Freedom has been in business since 1953 and has five locations throughout Harford County. To learn more, visit www.freedomfcu.org

SVP of Business Banking Named to Department of Social Services Advisory Board

Bel Air, MD –Freedom Federal Credit Union is pleased to recognize Bob Wehland, Senior Vice President of Business Banking, on his recent executive appointment to the Department of Social Services (DSS) Advisory Board in Harford County. Wehland received commendations on his appointment by County Executive Barry Glassman and County Council President Patrick Vincenti.

The Department of Social Services Advisory Board is involved in every phase of DSS planning, operations, and funding. The agency itself works under the mission to aggressively pursue opportunities to assist people in economic need, provide prevention services, and protect vulnerable children and adults.

Wehland comes to the board with over twenty years of banking management experience, and a long history of community involvement. Wehland is currently the Vice President for the Mason-Dixon Business Association, for which he has also served as both President and Treasurer since his initial involvement in 1999. Around the same time, Wehland also joined the board of Mason-Dixon Community Services, for which he has been the Treasurer for the last eight years.

Wehland is also the current chair of the Veterans Committee for Abingdon Elks Lodge # 2354, where he recently coordinated and assisted in delivering 115 boxed lunches and 105 hot dinners to Veterans at Perry Point.

In addition to his role at Freedom Federal Credit Union, Wehland has coordinated employee volunteers to participate in over twenty different non-profit causes and over 1,500 hours of volunteer time as Chairperson of Freedom’s Community Outreach Committee, a role he has held since 2015.

When asked to join the DSS Advisory Board, Wehland expressed that he was both “humbled and honored to be considered for such an opportunity”. “I have always believed it is important to give back to the community,” Wehland stated. “Fortunately, Freedom Federal Credit Union shares this philosophy of giving back and people helping people.”

“Offering a hand up, especially in a time of crisis, makes our world and our community a better place,” Wehland continued. “I hope to bring my knowledge, experience, and wisdom, along with my compassion and commitment to the DSS Advisory Board. I am very grateful for this opportunity and look forward to serving the citizens of Harford County in this new role.”

“Bob Wehland is as dedicated to his community as he is to the Freedom Federal Credit Union Team, and we could not be prouder” stated Mike MacPherson, Freedom’s President and CEO. “Over the years, it has been incredible to see our community being served in meaningful ways by our Freedom employees, board directors, committee volunteers, and members.”

The Credit Union encourages employees to volunteer their time and skills to better serve the Harford and Baltimore County communities, including serving on local non-profit boards and county government boards and commissions.