In the last 30 days I have had someone try to access my bank account, try to get into my social security, and the death of my best friend of 40 years. I have been terrified, but first we don’t usually speak kindness about social security, but the calmest representative got my call and brought me back to earth. Then there is the staff of 1st Bank, they explained the safety levels they implement and my account was protected. A complete change of account name and password, doesn’t sound like much but I am challenged when it comes to computers. Another problem I had was I had a check that needed to be deposited, I don’t drive and have no one to help. Your staff helped me to download 1st Bank mobile, I took a picture of my deposit check and successfully deposited my first check into my account. No one, but my faith in God, can help me with my friends death. I can put all my time in coming to understanding, why her. It takes all of us to be caring to each other, thank you 1st Bank.

I have been a FirstBank member from the beginning, when I first opened my checking and savings accounts and got a debit card. (So somewhere around twenty years, give or take.) For the most part, I have not had any kind of difficulties with FirstBank. I have loved having the availability of the app and the benefits it has provided, and overall, I have had a positive experience when I have interacted with employees. However, as of late, I have been finding myself having financial difficulties that are not being aided by the overdraft fees that are charged for every charge when the account is in the negative balance. (I am struggling to understand the point/purpose of these overdraft fees because they just seem to make already difficult financial situations worse than they already are and overall just don’t seem to truly benefit anybody.) I have also had relatively recents charges (that were recurring and have only stopped because I changed cards) that I do not remember ever consenting to, and have had difficulty with the process of even potentially get reimbursed for those charges because of there being certain people I am apparently supposed to contact for that. All of this has just been making it quite difficult for me to continue enjoying having FirstBank as my bank, despite all the positive experiences I have had before the past year or so.

I have been banking with e-First bank for at least the last 20 years and there are several things that surpass most other banks. First, when you call them for assistance, they almost always answer on the first ring. And it’s a real person! Everyone has always been more than just friendly, giving me the feeling of being important to them. A few years ago I was having a problem with my account and the manager, Scott, at the Ahwatukee branch in Phoenix AZ gave me his personal card with his work phone number, and I’ve used it more than once and Scott has answered. I feel that my money is very safe there because of how “on top of things“ their security/fraud department is. When I retired and moved out of the country, the bank allowed two free withdrawals per month, and they paid the service fee. They’re privately owned and that’s a huge benefit. I hate having to change banks but they no longer allow free withdrawals from anywhere outside of the country. In fact, their fee per withdrawal is $20 plus their service fee, and the fee I have to pay at the foreign bank. Although I only withdraw twice a month, it has added up to a ridiculous amount and I would be a fool to continue banking with them. I will truly miss the personal experience I’ve received from them!

Recently had fraud on my account where someone made 8 purchases for 150$ each within a span of a few minutes. Filed claim and went into branch. Was told they don’t do provisional credits like they used to while investigating claim, because they’ve gotten too big to support their members like they used to. I provided all documentation for claim, and specified the exact purchases that were not made by me. After following up the next day they went in and adjusted my claim from 1400$ to 3500$. I informed them this was incorrect and it’s just the 1400 that was fraudulent. They said okay thanks all taken care of. I call again two days after and they had somehow now managed to have 3 active claims and the original one, the only one I made that was accurate was closed. Had to go through but again with them, and restart the entire process. Provided proof that purchases weren’t me, they said okay yeah we have everything we need. Sorry about the confusion. Next day claim is denied and I’m told that I took part in these transactions. I missed my rent payment, credit cards, and had zero support from this bank. For being such a “big” bank you’d think that their security monitoring would’ve picked up on 8 purchases for 150 back to back to back.