SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Nov. 26, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Franklin Bank, a division of First Place Bank (Nasdaq:FPFC), announces the appointment Ms. Stephanie Claborn as Vice President, Commercial Loan Officer at our Grand Blanc Loan Production Office, 8195 S. Saginaw, Grand Blanc, Michigan 48423; telephone (810) 695-7093; email sclaborn@franklinbank.com.
Ms. Claborn has 8 years of commercial lending experience. Most recently, she served as Senior Vice President -- Commercial Lending with a Michigan based regional bank. Ms. Claborn completed her Bachelor of Business Administration majoring in Finance at Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.
"We are proud to have Stephanie Claborn join our Grand Blanc team," stated Darlene Nowak-Baker, Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of Franklin Bank. "Ms. Claborn will make an immediate impact and will help our commercial team achieve new levels of success especially in the SBA lending market where Ms. Claborn has been a top producer for the past five years."
Franklin Bank specializes in serving small to medium size businesses and personal banking customers. With the recent addition of seven retail banking branches in Genesee County, Franklin Bank has14 full-service branches in southeast Michigan. In addition, Franklin operates Lending Production Offices in Grand Blanc, Jackson, and Holland, Michigan.
About First Place Financial Corp.
First Place Financial Corp., a $3.2 billion financial services holding company is based in Warren, Ohio. First Place Financial Corp. operates 42 retail locations, 2 business financial service centers and 18 loan production offices through the First Place Bank, and Franklin Bank divisions of First Place Bank. Additional affiliates include First Place Insurance Agency, Ltd.; Coldwell Banker First Place Real Estate, Ltd.; TitleWorks Agency, LLC and APB Financial Group, Ltd., an employee benefit consulting firm and specialists in wealth management services for businesses and consumers. Information about First Place Financial Corp. may be found on the Company's web site: http://www.firstplacebank.com.