The physical relocation was barely over half a mile, but the move was major nonetheless for FirstBank.

The Nashville-based financial institution, already a presence in the Rocket City since 2015, traded its original home in the five-story office tower that’s part of the Twickenham Square development for an empty building at 401 Franklin St..

A roster of local dignitaries, bank luminaries and employees, and assorted associates gathered on a hot Tuesday morning to celebrate FirstBank’s new downtown home with a ribbon-cutting.

“The conversation (to move) started about two-and-a-half years ago,’’ said Grant Lauderdale, an Athens native in charge of revenue for the company’s Metro Markets – Birmingham, Huntsville, Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Asheville, N.C. “We wanted to have a stand alone building where our customers would have easier access.’’

FirstBank, which has a second Huntsville branch at Providence, has grown from its small-town Tennessee beginnings to locations in five states. The company opened its first location in Scotts Hill in 1906 under the name Farmers State Bank.

Though the Music City is now headquarters for FirstBank, the Scotts Hill branch remains a flagship location. The bank serves Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia and, most recently, North Carolina.

“We’ve grown strategically and controlled because that’s our style,’’ Lauderdale said. “We want to deliver community banking service with big bank technology. We try to combine those two so that our delivery model is best in class.

“And then, obviously, we try to surround our customers with the best possible personnel we can find in our industry. So that’s how we believe we’re gonna win long term.’’

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle was among those applauding FirstBank’s growth and relocation.

“Let me just say to all the FirstBank team – thank you for your investment,’’ he said. “Thank you for being part of Huntsville and we look forward to great things in the future.’’

Part of the celebration included recognition of the strong relationship between FirstBank and Free 2 Teach, an organization that grew from the garage of late teacher Eula Battle to a 10,000-square foot combined retail and warehouse space on Leeman Ferry Road.

Free 2 Teach provides free supplies to all classroom teachers and school staff across all five public school districts in Limestone and Madison County.

“We provide resources to teachers to get into the hands of students to make the most impact for their educational experience,’’ said Matt Reed, who chairs the Free 2 Teach board and is also co-founder and COO at DynamicMSSP. “We take donations of supplies, obviously we take money to buy those supplies at the most discounted rates to get those resources in the hands of teachers that need it the most.

He added that, “FirstBank has been a partner of ours for probably about 10 years running, if not longer, and has been a phenomenal community partner.’’

Free 2 Teach has awarded $14.7 million in free schoolroom supplies over 14 years.

Meanwhile, FirstBank’s parent company purchased Southern States Bank’s parent company, and the two will soon merge to give the latter even firmer footing. That’s not lost on Richard Bigoney of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber.

“I’m glad that you guys are here,’’ he said, “keeping our banking industry stronger.’’