TownBridge Bank Promotes Nicole Perry to President of CannaFirst Financial, Strengthening Cannabis Banking Leadership
TownBridge Bank has announced the promotion of Nicole Perry to President of CannaFirst Financial, the bank’s specialized cannabis banking division. The appointment represents an important leadership development for the organization as it continues to expand its services to cannabis-related businesses and address the financial needs of an industry operating within a complex and evolving regulatory environment.
Perry brings more than two decades of experience in financial services, with expertise spanning specialty banking, business development, cannabis financial services, operational performance, and relationship management. Since joining CannaFirst Financial in March 2025 as Director of National Sales, she has contributed to the division’s strategic priorities, strengthened industry relationships, and supported efforts to expand its national presence.
In her new role, Perry will oversee CannaFirst Financial’s strategic direction, business development initiatives, and continued development of banking solutions tailored to cannabis businesses. Her appointment reflects TownBridge Bank’s focus on experienced leadership and specialized financial services as cannabis-related companies seek dependable banking relationships, improved financial access, and support for regulatory compliance.
Nicole Perry to Lead CannaFirst Financial’s Strategic Growth
As President, Perry will be responsible for guiding CannaFirst Financial’s business strategy and supporting its continued development in the cannabis banking market. Her responsibilities will include advancing business development opportunities, strengthening relationships with industry participants, and helping the division deliver financial services designed around the operational requirements of cannabis-related businesses.
The cannabis industry presents specific challenges for financial institutions. Businesses operating in this sector may encounter additional compliance requirements, limitations on available financial services, and heightened scrutiny from banking partners. These factors make specialized knowledge and an understanding of the regulatory environment important considerations for organizations providing banking services to cannabis companies.
CannaFirst Financial operates within this specialized market, connecting cannabis-related businesses with banking services through a relationship-focused approach. Under Perry’s leadership, the division intends to continue developing its national presence while maintaining its emphasis on regulatory compliance and tailored financial solutions.
Her experience in cannabis banking and sales leadership is expected to support the division’s efforts to identify new business opportunities and strengthen relationships across the sector. By combining specialized industry knowledge with established banking practices, CannaFirst Financial aims to serve businesses seeking financial partners that understand the distinctive requirements of their operations.
Perry’s promotion also highlights the importance of leadership continuity as financial institutions respond to changes in the cannabis sector. As the industry develops, banking providers must balance commercial opportunities with risk management, regulatory obligations, and the need to establish sustainable customer relationships.
TownBridge Bank Highlights Perry’s Leadership and Industry Expertise
Jeffery Trammell, Chief Operations Officer of TownBridge Bank, emphasized Perry’s leadership capabilities, industry knowledge, and strategic vision when discussing the appointment.
“Nicole has demonstrated the leadership, industry knowledge, and strategic vision necessary to guide CannaFirst Financial into its next chapter,” Trammell said. “Her understanding of the complexities of cannabis banking, combined with her ability to build meaningful partnerships and identify opportunities for growth, makes her exceptionally well-suited for this role. We are excited about the future of CannaFirst under her leadership.”
The appointment reflects the value TownBridge Bank places on leadership experience in specialized financial markets. Cannabis banking requires financial institutions to understand the particular risks and compliance considerations associated with serving businesses in a sector subject to distinct legal and regulatory requirements.
Experienced leadership can help banking divisions coordinate business development with risk oversight, strengthen internal processes, and maintain consistent relationships with customers. These capabilities are particularly relevant for specialized banking programs that serve businesses operating across multiple markets.
Perry’s background in sales, program management, and banking operations provides experience across several areas that can contribute to CannaFirst Financial’s strategic objectives. Her previous roles involved supporting cannabis banking programs, improving business operations, and contributing to growth initiatives.
With Perry assuming the presidency, CannaFirst Financial will continue working toward its objective of providing specialized financial services while navigating the challenges and opportunities associated with cannabis banking.
More Than Two Decades of Financial Services Experience
Perry has built her career across financial services, developing experience in specialty banking, business development, operational management, and leadership. Her professional background includes positions at Credit Union 1, The Dart Bank, and Fifth Third Bank.
Before joining CannaFirst Financial, Perry served as Cannabis Banking Program Manager at Credit Union 1. In that position, she led efforts to restructure and expand the institution’s cannabis banking program. This experience gave her direct involvement in developing specialized banking services for an industry with distinctive financial and compliance requirements.
Restructuring a specialized banking program can involve evaluating existing processes, improving operational practices, strengthening risk controls, and identifying opportunities to serve customers more effectively. Expanding such a program also requires a clear understanding of customer needs and the ability to build relationships with businesses that may face challenges obtaining conventional banking services.
Perry’s work at Credit Union 1 forms part of the professional experience she brings to her new leadership position at CannaFirst Financial.
She also held leadership positions at The Dart Bank, where she contributed to the development of its national cannabis and hemp banking program. Cannabis and hemp businesses can have different operational requirements depending on their activities, products, and applicable regulations. Banking providers serving these businesses must understand those distinctions and maintain appropriate procedures for evaluating customers and managing financial relationships.
Her experience at The Dart Bank therefore adds another dimension to her background in specialized financial services and national business development.
Earlier in her career, Perry worked at Fifth Third Bank, focusing on leadership development, operational performance, and revenue growth. This experience provided exposure to broader banking operations and business management, complementing her later specialization in cannabis financial services.
Taken together, her professional background spans established banking institutions and specialized programs serving cannabis-related businesses. This combination is relevant to CannaFirst Financial as it seeks to balance industry-specific expertise with the operational standards and compliance practices associated with financial services.
Industry Certifications and Academic Qualifications
Perry holds several professional certifications related to cannabis banking, treasury management, lending, and risk. Her credentials include the Certified Cannabis Banking Professional (CCBP), Cannabis Banking Professional Executive Certification (CBPE), Certified Treasury Manager (CTM), PBC Certified Professional Certificate (PBC-CP), Cannabis Lending Professional Certification (CLP), and Certified Risk Specialist Certificate (CRT).
These credentials reflect her professional focus on specialized banking and financial services. The cannabis banking and lending certifications are particularly relevant to her responsibilities at CannaFirst Financial, where an understanding of industry-specific financial practices and compliance considerations is important.
Treasury management knowledge can also be relevant to businesses that need to manage cash flows, payments, liquidity, and other financial operations. Risk-related training complements these areas by supporting an understanding of the controls and procedures financial institutions use when evaluating and managing business relationships.
In addition to her professional certifications, Perry holds a Master of Science in human resources management from Central Michigan University and a bachelor’s degree in business administration management from Davenport University.
Her academic background combines management education with extensive professional experience in banking. Human resources management can contribute to leadership development, organizational effectiveness, and team management, while business administration provides a foundation in organizational operations and business strategy.
Together, Perry’s education, certifications, and career experience support her transition into the presidency of a specialized banking division.
Addressing the Financial Needs of Cannabis Businesses
Access to reliable financial services remains an important issue for cannabis-related businesses. Although the industry has developed across various markets, companies may still face challenges when establishing banking relationships, managing payments, handling cash flows, and finding financial institutions with the expertise to understand their operations.
For financial institutions, serving this sector requires more than conventional banking capabilities. Providers must consider the legal status of specific business activities, applicable federal and state requirements, customer due diligence, transaction monitoring, and other compliance obligations relevant to their services.
These considerations can influence how banking programs are structured, how customers are evaluated, and how financial relationships are maintained over time.
Specialized providers such as CannaFirst Financial seek to address these needs by combining banking services with an understanding of the cannabis industry. Relationship-driven service can help financial institutions better understand their customers’ business models, operational requirements, and financial objectives while maintaining appropriate oversight.
For cannabis businesses, an established banking relationship can support routine financial management and contribute to more organized business operations. Depending on the services available and the needs of each customer, banking relationships may assist with account management, payment processing, treasury activities, and other financial functions.
However, the availability of specific services depends on the financial institution’s offerings, the customer’s business activities, and applicable legal and regulatory requirements. Compliance remains a central consideration for institutions serving this market.
Under Perry’s leadership, CannaFirst Financial plans to continue emphasizing specialized expertise, customer relationships, and compliant banking solutions. The division’s continued development will depend on its ability to respond to customer needs while operating within the requirements that govern cannabis-related financial services.
Building Partnerships and Expanding National Reach
Perry’s experience in national sales and business development is expected to play an important role in CannaFirst Financial’s next phase. Building a national presence in a specialized financial market requires strong industry relationships, an understanding of regional business conditions, and the ability to identify organizations that need tailored financial support.
Partnerships can also help banking providers better understand the challenges cannabis-related businesses encounter as they grow. By maintaining communication with industry participants, financial institutions can gain insight into changing operational needs and develop services that align with customer requirements, subject to applicable compliance standards.
Perry has identified partnership development and expansion as priorities for her tenure as President. Her experience across multiple banking institutions provides a foundation for working with customers and industry stakeholders while pursuing the division’s broader strategic objectives.
In her statement regarding the appointment, Perry expressed her commitment to continuing the work already established by the CannaFirst Financial team.
“I am honored to step into the role of President of CannaFirst Financial and continue building upon the strong foundation our team has established,” Perry said. “The cannabis industry continues to evolve, and with that comes an increasing need for trusted financial partners who understand the regulatory complexities and operational challenges businesses face. I look forward to working alongside our talented team to expand our reach, strengthen our partnerships, and ensure CannaFirst remains at the forefront of compliant, innovative cannabis banking solutions.”
The promotion of Nicole Perry to President represents a leadership milestone for CannaFirst Financial as it continues serving businesses in the cannabis sector. Her background in financial services, cannabis banking program management, national sales, and operational leadership positions her to guide the division’s strategic priorities.
For TownBridge Bank, the appointment underscores the role of specialized expertise in serving business sectors with distinctive financial and regulatory requirements. As cannabis-related businesses seek dependable banking relationships, providers must continue evaluating how to deliver appropriate services while maintaining robust compliance practices.
CannaFirst Financial’s stated priorities include expanding its reach, developing partnerships, and providing banking solutions tailored to cannabis businesses. Perry’s leadership will be central to advancing these objectives and supporting the division’s long-term development.
As the cannabis industry continues to mature, the relationship between specialized banking providers and cannabis-related businesses will remain an important part of the sector’s financial infrastructure. By focusing on industry knowledge, relationship-driven service, and regulatory compliance, CannaFirst Financial intends to continue bridging the gap between traditional banking and the financial needs of cannabis businesses across the United States.
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