First Federal, a savings and loan bank headquartered in Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, has opened a new lending center in Bellingham’s Gateway Centre office complex at 1313 E. Maple St.

The new location will focus on mortgage and commercial lending.

First Federal announced it has hired Bellingham native Dwight Jeppson as vice president and commercial relationship manager at the new branch. Jeppson has more than 20 years’ experience as a commercial lender, and has also worked as a real estate broker and commercial real estate appraiser.

The bank said a new mortgage loan officer will soon be added to the Bellingham branch’s team.

Jeppson can be contacted at 360-461-7881.

First Federal opened its first location in 1923. It operates banking locations in Forks, Port Angeles, Sequim and Port Townsend. It also runs a lending center in Poulsbo.