Eleven hostages held at gunpoint in a north Florida credit union were freed two hours after their ordeal began Thursday, authorities said.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office tweeted that "we have 11 hostages out" about two hours after the robbery of the Community First Credit Union started. The suspect was in custody, according to the sheriff's office.

No hostages were shot, and initial reports saying otherwise were not true, the sheriff's office said.

Community First Credit Union - We have 11 hostages out. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JAX?src=hash">#JAX</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Jacksonville?src=hash">#Jacksonville</a> —@JSOPIO

Community First Credit Union - Nobody was shot. Reports of people shot are inaccurate and untrue. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JAX?src=hash">#JAX</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Jacksonville?src=hash">#Jacksonville</a> —@JSOPIO

Sheriff Mike Williams told reporters that two people inside the bank were hiding from the hostage-taker and managed to escape. That distracted the gunman long enough for the SWAT team to enter credit union and put themselves between the 11 hostages and the robber, who police said was agitated and threatening to kill people. ​

He was arrested at the scene unharmed. Police have not yet confirmed his identity but said he was not a bank employee.

Hostages 'shaken up' but unharmed

An initial 911 call reporting a bank robbery came in at 9:06 a.m. ET. The bank is located in a northwest Jacksonville commercial district.

Law enforcement personnel gather near the Community First Credit Union bank, where a SWAT team infiltrated a hostage situation and rescued 11 people. (Gary McCullough/Associated Press)

Williams said the hostages, a mix of bank employees and customers, are "shaken up" but unharmed. He thanked the responding officers for doing "a fantastic job."

"We were able to not only resolve it, but resolve it peacefully," he said.

The credit union released a statement thanking law enforcement.

"We are so thankful that today's hostage situation resolved itself in a safe way," chief executive John Hirabayashi said. "Our hearts and prayers are with the families and membership."