About 1st Franklin Financial · Batesville
1st Franklin Financial in Batesville, Mississippi is a branch of the family-owned consumer lending company 1st Franklin Financial Corporation, headquartered in Toccoa, Georgia. The Batesville office, located at 682 Highway 6 E, Suite A, specializes in fixed-rate personal installment loans (up to $15,000), retail sales financing, and optional credit insurance products, serving customers across Panola, Coahoma, Quitman, Tallahatchie, and Yalobusha counties — including the nearby communities of Sardis, Como, Enid, Pope, Courtland, Marks, Clarksdale, and Oakland.
The Batesville branch operates as part of 1st Franklin Financial Corporation, a Georgia-based consumer finance company that traces its roots back to 1941, when attorney Ben F. Cheek Jr. made his first $34 auto loan from his law office in Toccoa. Over the following decades, the company grew into one of the South's largest family-owned installment lenders. In 1983, the former Franklin Discount Company was renamed 1st Franklin Financial Corporation, and by its 50th anniversary in 1991, the Cheek family had expanded the business across the Southeast. Today, the company operates more than 370 branch offices in ten southern states with over 1,600 employees, and is led by the third and fourth generations of the Cheek family — including Ginger Cheek Barrett (Chief Culture Officer/Board Chair), Ben 'Buddy' Cheek, and CEO Jerry Harrison. The Batesville, Mississippi office offers personal installment loans, retail sales financing on items like furniture, appliances, jewelry, lawn equipment, and electronics, and optional credit insurance products (life, disability, involuntary unemployment, property, and auto). Loan decisions are made locally at the branch, with fixed interest rates, predictable monthly payments, and a wheelchair-accessible entrance. Customers can apply online, by phone, or in person.
- In business
- Company founded 1941 (Batesville branch listed as licensed by Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance)
- Owner
- Founded by Ben F. Cheek Jr. in Toccoa, Georgia in 1941. The Cheek family continues to own and lead the company: Ginger Cheek Barrett (Chief Culture Officer / incoming Board Chair), Ben 'Buddy' Cheek (Vice Chair). CEO: Jerry Harrison. President/COO: Gary McQuain.
- Serves
- Batesville, MS and surrounding communities including Sardis, Como, Enid, Pope, Courtland, Marks, Clarksdale, and Oakland; serves Panola, Coahoma, Quitman, Tallahatchie, and Yalobusha counties in north-central Mississippi.
- Rating
- 4.8 out of 5 (93 reviews on the official 1ffc.com branch page)
1st Franklin Financial — Batesville Branch Overview
The Batesville office is one of more than 370 branch locations of 1st Franklin Financial Corporation, a family-owned consumer finance company headquartered in Toccoa, Georgia. The branch is staffed by local loan professionals who underwrite and approve loans on site. Visitors are served in a brick, stand-alone building next door to AT&T and across the street from Hardee's on Highway 6 East, with a wheelchair-accessible entrance and parking in front of and beside the building.
- Branch address: 682 Highway 6 E, Suite A, Batesville, MS 38606
- Phone: 662-563-0501
- Branch rating: 4.8/5 (93 reviews on 1ffc.com)
- Local staff make final loan decisions
Company History & Family Ownership
1st Franklin Financial Corporation was founded in 1941 when attorney Ben F. Cheek Jr. made his first $34 auto loan from his law office in Toccoa, Georgia. By the 1950s the company was also selling investment securities to the public; by 1960 it had 500 investment customers with over $1 million in purchases; and by 1970 it employed 70 people. In 1983, Franklin Discount Company was renamed 1st Franklin Financial Corporation. Ben Cheek Jr. handed leadership to his son Ben Cheek III in 1972, who expanded the business through the Southeast. Ben III's children, Ginger Cheek Barrett and Ben 'Buddy' Cheek, now lead the third and fourth generations of family ownership. The company marked its 50th anniversary in 1991, its 80th anniversary in 2021, and is preparing to celebrate 85 years in 2026.
- Founded 1941 by Ben F. Cheek Jr. in Toccoa, Georgia
- Renamed 1st Franklin Financial Corporation in 1983
- Family-owned for four generations
- 85th anniversary planned for 2026
Personal Loans & Installment Lending
The Batesville branch's core product is fixed-rate personal installment lending. Loans are repaid over time at a fixed rate in as few as a few months, or longer if needed. 1st Franklin is explicit that it is not a payday lender or title-loan provider; it instead offers installment loans with predictable monthly payments. Borrowers may qualify with a range of credit histories, and loan amounts up to $15,000 are available. Applications can be started online, and final loan decisions are made locally at the Batesville branch.
- Loan amounts up to $15,000
- Fixed interest rate and fixed monthly payments
- Secured and unsecured options
- Common uses: car repairs, medical/dental bills, home repairs, back-to-school, holidays, new furniture/appliances, vacations, weddings, new baby, debt consolidation
Retail Sales Financing
In addition to personal loans, the Batesville office offers retail sales contract financing — installment financing for purchases of tangible goods. Financed items include jewelry, furniture, appliances, lawn equipment, storage buildings, wheels and tires, computers, electronics, and more. Retail Sales Contract Loans are also available up to $15,000. Certain exclusions apply; customers are encouraged to contact the local branch for full details.
- Jewelry, furniture, appliances
- Lawn equipment and storage buildings
- Wheels and tires
- Computers and electronics
Credit Insurance & Motor Club
Optional credit insurance products are available to Batesville borrowers to help protect against life's uncertainties. Coverage is entirely optional and never affects loan approval. 1st Franklin also offers a Motor Club membership providing 24/7 roadside assistance, including flat-tire help, towing, lockout service, and fuel delivery.
- Credit Life Insurance
- Credit Disability Insurance
- Credit Involuntary Unemployment Insurance
- Credit Property Insurance
- Credit Auto Insurance
- Motor Club roadside assistance
Applying & Making Payments
Customers may begin the application electronically via the 'Apply Now' button on 1ffc.com. A Batesville branch representative typically follows up within two business days. Funds, once approved, are issued by check at the local branch. Payments can be made online (with recurring-payment setup), by phone via debit card or electronic funds transfer, by mail (check or money order to the local branch), or in-branch (cash, check, money order, debit card, or EFT). A $1.50 convenience fee applies for debit card transactions in select states; fee-free payment options are always available.
- Apply online, by phone, or in branch
- Pay online, by phone, by mail, or in branch
- Required ID: U.S. Driver's License or state-issued ID plus Social Security card (two primary IDs or one primary + one secondary)
- Funds disbursed by check at the branch
Communities Served by the Batesville Branch
The Batesville branch serves customers across the north-central Mississippi region. The team regularly assists residents of nearby Sardis, Como, Enid, Pope, Courtland, Marks, Clarksdale, and Oakland, and provides installment lending throughout Panola, Coahoma, Quitman, Tallahatchie, and Yalobusha counties.
- Panola County
- Coahoma County
- Quitman County
- Tallahatchie County
- Yalobusha County
Company Mission & Values
According to the company's 'Why Us' page and 80th-anniversary storytelling, 1st Franklin's mission is 'to empower local communities through financial literacy and dedicated support.' Leadership emphasizes that the company is in the business of 'helping our friends and neighbors make their way through life with the dignity and respect they deserve.' The 2025 annual report describes 1st Franklin as a family-owned but professionally managed consumer finance company offering customer-focused products and services in markets where it is a strong fit, having recently completed a brand refresh with new logo, color palette, and an updated website at 1FFC.com.
- Family-owned since 1941
- Over 1,600 co-workers and 374 branches across ten southern states (2025)
- Brand refresh completed in 2025
- Senior leadership transitions effective January 1, 2026
Helpful FAQ for Borrowers
Common questions addressed on 1ffc.com and applicable to the Batesville branch include what types of loans are offered, whether credit insurance is required, how payments can be made, and how funds are disbursed. All loans are installment loans with fixed rates and fixed monthly payments; the company is not a payday lender.
- What type of loans does 1st Franklin make? — Secured and unsecured short- and long-term personal installment loans (not payday loans).
- Is Credit Insurance mandatory? — No; it is entirely optional and does not affect loan approval.
- How do I make a payment? — Online, by phone, by mail, or in-branch.
- How will I receive my funds? — By check at the local branch after approval.
- Will the interest rate change? — No; every loan has a fixed rate for the entire term.