Meet Marelyn Shedd

For Marelyn Shedd, banking has always been about more than numbers. Drawing from her formative years as the daughter of missionaries in Mexico City, she learned the value of compassion and service to others. Marelyn has spent more than three decades at First Financial Bank, building relationships and strengthening the Abilene community.

This foundation of empathy and service, instilled in her by her parents, shapes her approach to banking today. "We really can’t be successful unless each of the communities we serve are successful," Shedd reflects. Her philosophy of banking centers on a simple but powerful principle: treating customers how you would want to be treated. "It’s about being part of somebody’s life to realize goals and make sure they feel like they have a good banker who can be an advisor."

Throughout her career, Marelyn has witnessed numerous economic cycles and understands that a community bank’s role extends beyond just the positive times. "Banks have to be there for both good times and bad," she notes. "Whether it’s a great economy or not, you’ve got to work through some of those times. In those downtimes, customers need to feel like they have a partner."

Shedd has significantly impacted Abilene’s growth and development; her banking expertise has helped shape the community’s business and residential landscapes. She has guided many thriving local businesses from their beginnings, assisted families in realizing homeownership, and played a key role in numerous commercial development projects that have transformed the city.

Her commitment to mentorship has helped shape the next generation of banking leaders at First Financial. Marelyn takes pride in the Bank’s robust internal development programs and its success in cultivating leadership from within. "Our internal training team has done such a good job in terms of preparing those coming out of our credit analyst program," she says. "It’s been so gratifying to watch."

Shedd credits First Financial’s unique culture for this success, acknowledging the Bank’s emphasis on making employees feel part of the bigger picture through initiatives like the 21 Non-Negotiables and regional decision making. This approach, combined with strong mentorship and continued education opportunities, has created an environment where young bankers can thrive and grow into leadership roles. Marelyn also credits each region’s advisory board for playing an instrumental role in providing feedback, referrals, and collective wisdom from each board member’s area of expertise.

As she looks to the future, Shedd is enthusiastic about First Financial’s next generation of leaders. "I’m excited. We have such talent coming up," she says. While she acknowledges feeling occasional melancholy as she approaches the later stages of her career, she’s proud to have played a role in mentoring the Bank’s future leaders and continuing a legacy of service.

From her first day with the Company, Marelyn has exemplified First Financial’s commitment to exceptional customer service and community development. She has proven that success in banking isn’t just about financial transactions - it’s about building lasting relationships