News & Information

First Hoop Celebrates its 18th Season with $32,500 Contribution

As the Maine high school basketball season has come to a close, First National Bank is pleased to report the successful results of their signature athletic programming sponsorship “First Hoop”.

Designed to promote team spirit and fan participation, First Hoop was launched in 2005 by First National Bank. Since its inception, the First Hoop program has awarded $306,750 to participating high school athletic departments in the bank’s market area. For the 2022-2023 basketball season, twelve high schools participated in the program, including Belfast Area High School, Boothbay Region High School, Brewer High School, Calais High School, Ellsworth High School, George Stevens Academy in Blue Hill, Lincoln Academy in Newcastle, Medomak Valley High School in Waldoboro, Mount Desert Island High School in Bar Harbor, Oceanside High School in Rockland, Shead High School in Eastport, and Sumner Memorial High School in Sullivan.

Through First Hoop, First National Bank has supported each participating school’s general fund by awarding a cash donation at every home court basketball game. The donation awarded at each game was dependent on the outcome of a series of events. Fifty dollars was the base donation, automatically awarded at the start of every home varsity game. Fifty dollars was added to the fund if the first hoop of the game was scored by the home team. Finally, fifty dollars was added to the fund if a randomly drawn spectator (also known as “The First Fan”) successfully made a free-throw hoop at half-time.

New for the 2022-2023 season was the Spirit Card program. The Bank created debit cards featuring the participating schools’ mascots and schools could earn $5 per card for each card issued up to an additional $500.

In its eighteenth season, First Hoop donated a total sum of $32,500 to the twelve high schools’ sports programming funds. Tony McKim, President and CEO of First National Bank, observed, “Over the past years we have received so many enthusiastic comments about this program from school administrators, employees and fans alike. I want to thank our employees who volunteer their time at these games. Through their effort, First Hoop has made a significant contribution to high school athletics.”

First National Bank, a subsidiary of The First Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: FNLC) is an independent community bank with 18 offices in Lincoln, Knox, Waldo, Hancock, Washington and Penobscot Counties. For more information about First National Bank, please call 1-800-564-3195 or visit www.thefirst.com.

First National Bank supports Maine’s Lobster Industry with $300k donation

First National Bank (FNB) today announced a $300,000 commitment to the Maine Lobstermen’s Association (MLA). The donated funds will take the form of a $150,000 direct donation to the MLA’s Save Maine Lobstermen campaign. The MLA is currently appealing a court decision in its lawsuit against the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) which, if enacted, would decimate Maine’s lobster industry and negatively affect not only the economy of Maine’s coastal communities, but also the economy of the entire state. Additionally, the Bank will provide longer term support in the amount $150,000 to assist the industry in any way the Association sees fit.

"Having lived on the coast of Maine my entire life”, said First National Bank, President and CEO, Tony McKim, an Eastport native and current resident of Trenton, “I am keenly aware of the impact our fishing industry has on our livelihood as Mainers. The value created on and off shore by our fishing industry, and the quality men and women who work in it, sustains family after family and community after community up and down our coast. The care these men and women put into adhering to the rules, working toward sustainable fisheries, and protecting those species that are endangered is unparalleled. First National Bank stands behind our Lobster industry, and the families that make it go.”

“We are extremely grateful for First National Bank’s commitment to our effort to preserve Maine’s lobstering heritage,” stated Kristan Porter, a commercial fisherman from Cutler, and President of the MLA. “FNB understands the critical importance of our lobster industry not only to Maine’s economy, but also to our culture. We are honored to participate in this long-term partnership with the First.”

McKim continued, “As a Bank that includes amongst our core values, community focused support in good times and bad, we are so very pleased to provide this commitment to support this vital industry that has so long been part of Maine’s heritage. The road ahead for the industry is uncertain, but the leadership at MLA, coupled with the integrity and creativity of the men and women in our fishing industry, remains the cornerstone in which we at First National Bank believe and will carry the day. We are with you!”

The Bank is proud to support the MLA, founded in 1954, and is the oldest and largest fishing industry association on the east coast. The #SaveMaineLobstermen campaign was launched in 2021 and has a four-pronged approach to both preserve the lobstering industry and protect endangered whales. The plan includes legal and policy strategies, making sure decisions are based on sound science, implementing conservation strategies and communication. More information can be found at www.savemainelobstermen.org.

First National Bank Celebrates Back to School Spirit

First National Bank recently announced the launch of their Spirit VISA® Debit Cards.

The program, which works in partnership with their First Hoop program, currently enrolls ten schools across their market area including: Boothbay Region High School, Calais High School, Ellsworth High School, George Stevens Academy in Blue Hill, Lincoln Academy in Newcastle, Medomak Valley High School in Waldoboro, Mount Desert Island High School in Bar Harbor, Oceanside High School in Rockland, Shead High School in Eastport, and Sumner Memorial High School in Sullivan.

When a customer opens a new personal checking account and asks for a Spirit Card, First National Bank donates $5.00 to the participating school’s First Hoop fund. Each school has an opportunity to earn an additional $500 per First Hoop season.

The new cards are available at any of FNB’s 18 locations.

FNB Announces Winners of the 2023 Customer Photo Calendar Contest

DAMARISCOTTA – First National Bank is proud to announce the winners of its fourteenth annual Customer Photo Calendar Contest. Fifteen color photographs have been chosen from over 300 entries, and each winning photographer will be awarded a $150 cash prize. The images will appear in the Bank’s 2023 desk calendar, tide calendar and wall calendar, which will be available to customers in all offices of First National Bank by mid-November.

The winning entrants are: Cover – Carisa Landeis of Eastport; January – Laura Zamifirescu of Monroe; February – Lois Glaser of Boothbay Harbor; March – Jeff DeBoer of St. Cloud, MN; April – Dennis Boyd of Pemaquid; May – Stephen Vecchiotti of Bar Harbor; June – Dayna Herz of Bangor; July – Lauren Remington of Calais; August – Katie Dyer of Mount Desert ; September – Dale Joyce of Swan’s Island; October – Amie Bowman of Pittsfield; November – Michelle Christian of Waldo; December – Jolene Andrews of Brooksville; wall calendar image – Matthew Parisot of Union; tide chart image – Kevin Burnham of Boothbay.

First National Bank began asking its customers last fall to submit their very best original, scenic Maine shots. All photographers are welcome to enter the contest – professionals and amateurs, Maine residents and visitors. To continue First National Bank’s tradition of being a genuine Maine community bank, the custom calendars are being designed by Proforma Marketing Essentials in Camden.

“Every year we are amazed by the spectacular photographs taken by our customers,” said Susan Norton, Executive Vice President. “Producing custom calendars that highlight our customers’ talents and the natural beauty of our state is such a win-win situation. We look forward to sharing our calendars this fall.”

oyd of Pemaquid; May – Stephen Vecchiotti of Bar Harbor; June – Dayna Herz of Bangor; July – Lauren Remington of Calais; August – Katie Dyer of Mount Desert ; September – Dale Joyce of Swan’s Island; October – Amie Bowman of Pittsfield; November – Michelle Christian of Waldo; December – Jolene Andrews of Brooksville; wall calendar image – Matthew Parisot of Union; tide chart image – Kevin Burnham of Boothbay.

First National Bank Opens Brewer location at 5 Parkway South

BREWER, ME – On Monday, January 31, 2022, Tony C. McKim, President and CEO of First National Bank, a subsidiary of The First Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: FNLC), announced the opening of a Brewer branch at 5 Parkway South. Brewer is First National Bank’s second branch in Penobscot County, joining their Bangor location.

Brewer is a full-service branch offering personal and business banking services along with a complete line of investment services from First National Wealth Management, a division of First National Bank. Prior to opening, First National Bank obtained all required legal and regulatory approvals.

FNB’s Maria Ikwugwalu has been promoted to Assistant Branch Manager in Brewer. Ikwugwalu joined the bank in 2016. FNB welcomes Banking Consultants Ashley Grow, Christy Hart and Tyler Williams to the Brewer team.

“With today’s ribbon cutting we officially open our second Penobscot County branch,” stated Tony C. McKim, President and CEO of FNB. “Our new Brewer branch provides added convenience for our current customers and we look forward to meeting Brewer area residents in our new location.”

First National Bank kicked off its grand opening with a ribbon cutting and $5,000 donation to the Christine B. Foundation to help support their nutrition assistance program. The Brewer City Council also presented FNB with a welcome key plaque. The bank will host its grand opening week Monday, January 31^st through Friday, February 4^th with giveaways and the chance to enter-to-win gift cards to some of your favorite local Brewer businesses *while supplies last.

With the addition of Brewer, First National Bank now operates 18 branches in Lincoln, Knox, Waldo, Hancock, Washington and Penobscot Counties. For more information about First National Bank, call 1-800-564-3195 or visit www.thefirst.com.