Neal Cummings, FFCU

Submitted

Neal Cummings

EXECUTIVE PROFILE $1B of Local Economic Intel

Valley Business FRONT introduces patron advisory board member, Neal Cummings, representing the financial / credit union industry sector.

A Liberty University alum with over 25 years of banking experience, Neal Cummings can truly be considered a “Roanoke Valley native.” As Market Executive of the Roanoke Market at Freedom First, he is able to rely on both his industry expertise and thorough knowledge of the Roanoke market to help businesses make informed decisions about growth and scale.

“I understand the local economy and the challenges that local business owners face when starting and expanding their businesses,” Cummings said. “And since the lending decisions are made here in Roanoke by our local in-house underwriting team, we can be flexible with our borrowers while still working within regulatory parameters.”

He has extensive experience in commercial and retail banking, commercial real estate lending, and small business development, which gives him a unique perspective on product development and service offerings that will best meet the needs of the local businesses that Freedom First serves. Cummings was brought onto the Freedom First team in 2014 to help build up Freedom First’s Commercial Division, which is now comprised of eight Commercial Loan Officers and over twenty back office support staff dedicated to keeping the lending process running smoothly.

“Freedom First’s growth, especially in the area of Commercial Lending, has grown exponentially since I joined on about eight years ago,” said Cummings. “When I started, we were at $330 Million in asset size, and now we’re about to reach $1 Billion. And it’s great to see because the benefits from all this growth are going to stay right here in the community that I grew up in.”

Cummings serves as Executive Board Treasurer for the Rescue Mission, was an advisor for the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Roanoke Valley program, and coaches JV Boys Basketball at Roanoke Valley Christian School. He and his wife Laura live in Roanoke with their two children.