Bank News

First State Bank is happy to congratulate Martha Castro, Financial Analyst, on her tenth year with the Bank.

Castro began her career with First State Bank as a Teller at the Stock Island Branch in 2010 and progressed to Customer Service Representative/Call Center in 2011 at the Bank’s Main Branch. In 2013 she transferred to the Accounting Department as an Accounting Clerk, and in 2017 she was promoted to Financial Analyst.    

First State Bank of the Florida Keys is proud to be a $1,000 sponsor of the Habitat for Humanity of the Upper Keys annual cocktail party fundraiser. This year the theme is “Buckles and Boots,” and all proceeds remain in the Upper Keys to fund construction of homes for qualifying families.

First State Bank congratulates James Sitler, ATM Coordinator, on his fifteenth year with the Bank. Sitler joined the Bank in 2005 as an ATM Coordinator in Marathon.

Originally from Far Rockaway, New York, Sitler has an Associates degree in Information Technology from The College of the Florida Keys and a Comp TIA A+ Certification.

We congratulate the most recent group of Key Largo School third graders on their completion of the Junior Banker program.  The Junior Bankers learned the fundamentals of everyday banking over the course of three months working alongside First State Bank Customer Service Representatives, Tellers, and Branch Managers.

Pictured (L to R front row): First State Bank Tradewinds Teller Debra Hollis, Junior Bankers Charles Alexander Royal Jr, and Macie Noel Lykins, Tradewinds Teller Sarahys Gamez-Burciaga, and Lead Teller Sonia Barajas.

First State Bank employees volunteered their time at the 29th Annual Kelly McGillis Classic International Women & Girls Flag Football Championship held January 25th & 26th at Wicker Field in Key West.

Pictured left to right: Sonia Barajas, Lead Teller - Tradewinds Branch and Karinna Placencia, Teller - Key Largo Branch

First State Bank is pleased to announce the promotion of Natsumi Ulloa-Fernandez to Lead Teller at our Old Town Branch.

Ulloa-Fernandez joined First State Bank in March of 2018 as a Teller at our Boulevard Branch before transferring to our Old Town Branch in June 2019.

AVP/Branch Manager Old Town, Michelle Raley praised her for the “ability to multitask and complete work accurately in a timely manner.”  

First State Bank of the Florida Keys recently donated $500 in support of Island Dolphin Care’s 11th Annual ‘I Do Care’ fundraiser.
Presenting the check to Grace the dolphin are, from left, Island Dolphin Care founder Deena Hoagland, First State Bank’s Lori Bailey and Laura Brown, and IDC trainer Amanda.

First State Bank is proud to announce the promotion of Heather Marcheterre to Residential Loan Underwriter.

Marcheterre joined First State Bank in November of 2017 as a Residential Loan Processor and has proven herself a valuable member of the Loan Department.  

Residential Sales Manager, Chris Rivett said, “She takes on new projects and responsibilities with a positive attitude. Effective communication is a requirement for her position and she does a good job communicating with loan officers, insurance agents, and closing agents.”

First State Bank is pleased to announce the promotion of Nicole Laboy to Business Analyst I.

Laboy joined First State Bank in March of 2005 as a Teller in the Bank’s Big Pine Branch. Throughout her career with the Bank she has held several positions including Lead Teller/ Supervisor, Customer Service Representative, and Assistant Branch Operations Manager before transferring to Loan Servicing in November 2016. She has proven her value in all the roles she has held within the Bank. 

First State Bank congratulates Judelys Valladares on her promotion to Islamorada Assistant Branch Operations Manager.

Valladares joined First State Bank in March of 2016 as a Teller in Marathon and in November of 2016 was promoted to Lead Teller.  She has proven herself a valuable member of the Marathon team.  

AVP/ Branch Manager, JoAnn Wagner commended Valladares for her “excellent job leading and managing the teller line with an efficient use of time and priority.”