With the holiday season quickly approaching, it may be tempting to turn to big companies like Amazon, Target, or Sam’s Club to fulfill last-minute gifts. At First FarmBank, however, a new alternative inspires shopping locally for the holidays and earning valuable rewards while doing it.
“With many banking companies, you’ll see some form of a ‘credit card’ rewards program for everyday purchases,” says James Pisaturo, First FarmBank’s chief financial officer. “At First FarmBank, we imagined an alternative that would benefit both our customers and the community we call home - what if you could earn rewards on your debit card, all while shopping within your community?”
In July of 2019, customers at First FarmBank were able to start that process by enrolling in the uChoose RewardsR program, which focuses on rewarding First FarmBank’s customers with valuable rewards for everyday shopping.
“First FarmBank is committed to the communities that we are a part of,” shares Pisaturo. “We want to be a staple within those communities, and what better way to support them than to promote their economic growth and stability through our services and rewards.”
The uChoose RewardsR program at First FarmBank was born out of a desire to see something different than your typical banking rewards program. This program is attached to your debit card, rather than your credit card, and allows you to earn points on any purchase that can be redeemed for a cash-back deposit into your account or other rewards such as gift cards. For every dollar spent on your uChooseR rewards card, you earn a point toward one of these rewards. In efforts to support buying locally, as of July 2023 uChooseR offers a unique feature with their “Buy Local” program - if your purchase is coming from a local vendor located within an 80631 or 80634 zip code, that purchase will earn double rewards points.
“We are doing our best to offer a simple and beneficial program for our customers and our communities, and we’re excited for the impact we believe it can have,” shares First FarmBank’s Vice President of Marketing Stacey Bellendir. “For me, this program has meant that I can accrue points throughout the year, and use the rewards to do my holiday shopping, which feels like ‘free money’ and can allow me to support the local businesses within our community.”
First FarmBank originated within the agricultural side of Northern Colorado, where the rural communities felt that larger banks were ignoring them in pursuit of other opportunities. A group of investors came together to formulate the idea for First FarmBank - a local, community focused bank committed to meeting the financial needs of individuals within these agricultural communities. Since its charter in 2007, First FarmBank has expanded to various parts of Colorado and even Kansas, all while maintaining its original promise - a full-service bank that is committed to building strong, one-on-one client relationships with their customers.
“We want everyone in our communities to know that we are not just a bank for farmers,” says Tony Miller, First FarmBank’s current president. “We are a full-service bank with a teller line that is open to do business with folks from any area, and we are committed to supporting our employees, our communities, and our customers for many years to come.”
For the foreseeable future, First FarmBank looks to continue their tradition of putting customers first and providing valuable services to the local communities they are a part of.
“We are the community - we shop where you shop, go to school where you do, and buy the products that you are buying,” shares Pisaturo. “When you’re banking with us, you’re allowing us to serve these communities and build our streets."
For more information about First FarmBank, their community values, and the uChooseRewardsR Program, visit firstfarmbank.com, or a local branch near you!