When you're looking for details about mortgages, start your search here.
We'll help you navigate the homebuying process and dig into the details of mortgages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Knowing in advance how to get a mortgage is an essential first step in the home buying process. Belay Bank Mortgage is a trusted and experienced mortgage lender and can easily assist you throughout the process. Before you decide to purchase your first home, carefully assess your own financial situation. Whether you’re married or single, you'll need to determine where you stand financially. For instance, do you know your credit score? What are your current balances on unsecured personal loans, like credit cards and student loans? Belay Bank Mortgage does offer several programs for first-time homebuyers needing little money down; however, strive to have cash on hand, or in reserves, to utilize for any potential down payment, utilities, moving expenses, new home furnishings, or unforeseen emergencies. To help guide you through the home loan process, contact a Belay Bank Mortgage Home Loan Advisor. One of our friendly team members can help you determine the type of mortgage and loan amount that’s comfortable for you, based on your individual financial position.
A fixed rate mortgage is just that, it has a fixed interest rate. Meaning, the interest rate does not change throughout the life of your loan, allowing your principal and interest payment (P & I) to remain the same. However, with an adjustable rate mortgage, the interest rate may vary based on changes in market conditions (up or down). It’s important to know, there is usually a cap on adjustable rate changes, protecting the borrower from the rate (and the corresponding payment) from going up too high. Since there’s the potential for an increase in your payment to occur, an adjustable rate mortgage tends to come with a higher risk. Carefully assess your personal financial situation to determine which is right for you.
Yes, it’s possible for your payment to change. If this occurred, it would be due to any fluctuations in the annual tax assessments to your property or any increase to your homeowner’s insurance policy. Since both are paid monthly through your mortgage payment, any changes to either of these items would alter your payment. Please note, with a fixed rate home mortgage, your principal and interest payments will remain the same throughout the life of your loan.
Interest rates at this time are very reasonable. Sure, it would be nice to wait for a lower rate; however, at the same time, the price of the home can also increase. If you are ready to buy, that is usually the time you should buy! Belay Bank is always ready to assist you in the most important purchase of your life - owning your own home. Feel free to call upon any of our loan advisors to answer your questions and put you on the road to home ownership!
This is a legally-binding agreement between buyer and seller which, when accepted by all parties, confirms the purchase price of the property. Usually the buyer places a small amount of money in deposit as good faith (called "earnest money"). You should not sign a sales contract unless you have reviewed it carefully and perhaps even had it reviewed by an attorney. A contract is often contingent upon many things, such as mortgage loan approval, inspections of well and/or septic systems, satisfactory building inspection and termite inspection. You should make sure your own rights are protected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Client may register for the Mobile App by visiting first.bank and choosing the app links at the bottom of the website OR they may go to the app store on their mobile device and search for First Banks Biz to Go.
1. To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, Federal law requires us to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person acting as an authorized signer or is a Beneficial Owner of the entity. When you apply for an account, we will ask for the name, residential address, date of birth and other information that will allow us to identify those individuals designated as authorized signers and Beneficial Owners. In addition, we will require a valid (unexpired) Primary Identification for each individual.
Acceptable Primary Identification
- U.S. Driver’s License
- U.S. State ID
- U.S. Military ID
- Resident Alien/Permanent Resident Card
- Passport
- Matricula Consular ID Card
- Guatemala Consular ID Card
- U.S. Visa Border Crossing Card
Note: If the address on the Primary ID is not the individual’s current residential address, or the ID does not display a residential address, a passport for example, additional documentation is required to show the current residential address. This might include, but is not limited to, a utility bill or lease.
2. Information regarding the individual Beneficial Owners of the business. Beneficial Owners are those who own, directly or indirectly, 25% or more of the equity interests of the business. This information is collected to help fight financial crime.
3. Registration documents from the state where you registered your business in addition to documentation regarding the type of business entity you own. Contact your local First Bank branch for further information.
First Bank currently supports: Apple, Google, and Samsung pay Digital Wallet services. Please visit our Digital Wallet page for more information regarding each service.
Consumers
Signing up for eStatements is fast, easy, and secure! Simply login to eBanking. Under the “Accounts” tab, click on Statements. Then, click the "eStatements" option.
Businesses
Simply login to Business eBanking and click through the following steps:
- Reports
- Online Documents
- Statements & documents
- View and maintain document preferences
Contact Treasury Management Client support for assistance at 866-326-7113 Monday – Friday (7 a.m. - 6 p.m. CT).
Client may register for the Mobile App by visiting www.first.bank and choosing the app links at the bottom of the website OR they may go to the app store on their mobile device and search for First Banks On the Go.
Clients can use the following list of text commands:
People Pay can be used to send money to any individual or business with a U.S Bank account and email address or mobile number. Use People Pay to pay a friend for lunch, pay your rent or send money to your college student or babysitter.
Here is the answer the the FAQ
The Real-Time payment (RTP) Network allows a sender to transfer payment to receiver within seconds. It is a new payment rail similar to ACH, Wires, or Credit Card developed by TCH (The Clearing House), using the latest standards to address the increased demand for faster and safer payment transfer. The network will clear and settle payments 24-hours a day, seven days a week, and every day of the year.
It is a randomly generated one-time code we provide. You enter it before completing certain transactions to prevent fraudulent transactions and unauthorized access to your financial information.
SecurLOCK Equip is a mobile app that allows our business clients to control how, when, and where your Business Debit Card is used. It is a simple and secure way to manage and monitor your payment transaction activity. SecurLOCK Equip can help keep your First Bank Business Debit card safe and provide instant notifications whenever your card is used. View the SecurLOCK Equip App for Business Video for more details.
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No. It is provided to you at no cost so you can have more control over your card.
It is an extra layer of online banking protection that ensures that your funds and financial information are safe. By requiring the entry of a one-time code and the use of a phone you have on record with us, fraud is prevented even if an unauthorized user learns your online banking user ID and password. It also ensures that you are notified if an unauthorized user attempts to access your account information or complete transactions without your knowledge.
Built for the digital age, all federally-insured U.S. depository institutions are eligible to utilize the RTP Network.
People Pay gives you a safe and secure way to quickly and easily send payments online or from your mobile phone.
People Pay allows you to send money in one of the following ways:
- Deposit to bank account. If you know the contact’s account number and the routing and transit number of the financial institution where the account resides, you can deposit money directly into that account. Your money is delivered in 1-3 days.
- Email Address/Mobile number. Allow the contact to decide how they want to claim the money. We will send an email or text message to your contact with the instructions explaining how to claim the money
- PayPal. Send money instantly using PayPal. If you know the email address associated with the contact’s PayPal account, you can deposit money directly into that account.
No, eStatements are FREE! However, if your eStatements include images of your checks, there will be a monthly fee for this service. See below for additional information. If you would like to opt out of check images on your eStatements, please contact the Client Contact Center 800-760-2265 or for businesses, Treasury Management Client Support at 866-326-7113.
Consumers
- eStatements - Free
- eStatements with check images - $1.00 per month
- Paper Statement with no check images - $2.00 per month
- Paper Statement with check images - $3.00 per month
Business
- eStatements - Free
- Paper Statements - $5.00 per month
The current balance on your account is the balance from the close of business the previous day. It is the balance that we start with at the beginning of the business day. The available balance is what is actually available for withdrawal in your account. It takes into account any pending transactions you may have, as well as any holds on your account. The available balance is always the balance you want to consider when using the funds in your account.
To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, Federal law requires us to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. When you apply for an account, we will ask for your name, residential address, date of birth and other information that will allow us to identify you. In addition, we will require a valid (unexpired) Primary Identification.
Acceptable Primary Identification
- U.S. Driver’s License
- U.S. State ID
- U.S. Military ID
- Resident Alien/Permanent Resident Card
- Passport
- Matricula Consular ID Card
- Guatemala Consular ID Card
- U.S. Visa Border Crossing Card
For minors, Driver’s Permit with picture; Birth Certificate when other forms of ID are not available.
Note: If the address on the Primary ID is not the individual’s current residential address, or the ID does not display a residential address, a passport for example, additional documentation is required to show the current residential address. This might include, but is not limited to, a utility bill or lease.
Your account is overdrawn because a transaction has caused the Available Balance on your account to become a negative amount or a transaction has occurred while the Available Balance on the account was negative. Please contact our First Bank Service Center at 1-800-760-2265 option 2 for more specific assistance regarding your overdrawn account.
Clients who have had an account open for longer than 60 days are able to set up and use Mobile Deposit. Once the client has been registered for the appropriate amount of time, the option will appear and the client will follow the prompts and directions to use the service.
Yes, it's possible for your payment to change. If this occurred, it would be due to any fluctuations in the annual tax assessments to your property or any increase to your homeowner's insurance policy. Since both are paid monthly through your mortgage payment, any changes to either of these items would alter your payment. Please note, with a fixed rate home mortgage, your principal and interest payments will remain the same throughout the life of your loan.
Log into www.first.bank. Select People Pay from the ‘Pay and Transfer’ tab at the top of the home page and follow the enrollment instructions. People Pay can also be accessed by clicking on the People
Pay icon located in the ‘Money Center’.
Once enrolled in People Pay, you can access via your mobile device using the First Bank on the Go app (clients must enroll in the People Pay service through First Bank’s eBanking before it can be accessed through the First Bank mobile app).
Yes, First Bank is proud to now participate in the RTP Network as a receiving bank.
It is easy! We'll give you the one-time code and you are asked to enter it when we call a number you have on record with us.
Please use the Contact Us button at the bottom of the landing page. You can also call 800-760-2265 and one of our Frist Bank Service Center representatives will be more than happy to assist you.
You may elect to begin receiving your paper statement again at any time.
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No. Once the code is entered, it is not needed again.
RTP provides access to funds credited to your account within seconds. It also provides the ability to receive remittance information about the deposit along with the transfer and utilize new dual communication methods to ensure safe transfer between the payee and the payor.
A new contact can be added by accessing People Pay through First Bank’s eBanking or through the First Bank on the Go mobile app. You will need to provide the contacts information, such as name, email address or mobile number and bank account information (optional).
You may visit any local branch in person to close your account. Click here to find a branch closest to you. If you are not able to visit a branch in person, you may send a notarized letter to a branch indicating you would like the account to be closed and any remaining funds will be mailed to you.
Your debit card may not be working for several reasons. These include but are not limited to:
- The amount is over the daily limit.
- The account does not have sufficient funds to make the purchase.
- The purchase is being flagged as a suspicious transaction.
- The card is restricted from a previous suspicious transaction attempt.
Please contact the First Bank Service Center at 1-800-760-2265 option 2 or your local branch for more information about what may be causing the card to be non working.
Please contact our First Bank Service Center at 1-800-760-2265 option 2 or your local branch to get a dispute started on an unauthorized debit card charge. Visit our Locations page to find a local branch closest to you.
No. If the person you are sending money to is not registered for First Bank’s People Pay, they will receive and email or text to claim the payment. You can also send People Pay payments to recipients by entering their routing and account number or by using PayPal.
RTP transactions are sent individually round the clock (24x7x365) whereas ACH transactions are batched up and normally processed a few times a day for both same day ACH transactions as well as future dated transactions on business days only. ACH originators can both push (send) and pull money (receive) whereas RTP originators can push (send).
Absolutely. RTP is processed through secure banking channels with high security protocols.
To send money using an email address or text message, you need the name and email address or mobile phone number of the recipient.
To deposit funds directly to a bank account, you need the recipient’s name, bank account number and bank routing number.
To send funds instantly using PayPal, you need the recipient’s name and email address associated with their People Pay account.
There are many acceptable sources of funds that you can use for a down payment. The most common are: personal savings or checking account, gift from a family member, 401(k) account, and down payment assistance programs. A Mortgage Home Loan Advisor is there to assist you with these options and more.
A general rule of thumb for determining if you can qualify for a new mortgage is to use 33% of your gross monthly income for housing. The housing payment includes the monthly principal and interest on the mortgage, plus the property taxes and homeowners insurance. It is a good idea to also consider all the monthly amounts for car payments, leases, and revolving credit cards, plus the new housing payment at 38% of your gross monthly income. Our Mortgage Home Loan Advisors can easily assist you to ensure you are able to qualify for the home you are considering purchasing.
Payments sent using routing and account number or PayPal payments are received in one to three business days. Payments sent after 9:30 PM CT are processed the next business day. For example, if you use People Pay to pay your friend for dinner on Friday night at 10:00 PM CT, the payment is processed on Monday.
Payments sent using email or phone number are received one to three business days after the recipient claims the payment. Recipients have 10 calendar days to claim their payment.
Simply provide your account and routing numbers to any of your payees who have the ability to originate an RTP transaction. Much like any digital transaction, you will see details of the RTP deposit on your eBanking dashboard, Mobile Banking app, or on your banking statement.
RTP is a totally new real-time network that authenticates a transfer using the account number and bank routing number instead of an email address or mobile number. This eliminates the need for a separate sign up to identify the recipient. Zelle runs on a combination of the card and ACH networks. Note: First Bank is setup to receive Zelle payments and RTP Payments. Zelle is limited to consumers with an active First Bank Debit Card, and RTP is available to all businesses and consumers with an active First Bank Checking, Savings, or Money Market account.
If you send the payment using the recipients routing and account number or send via PayPal, the funds are debited immediately after you send the payment.
Payments made using email or phone number are debited from your account when the recipient claims the payment. If the recipient does not claim the payment after 10 calendar days, the funds are not deducted from your account.
Getting a mortgage can seem a bit overwhelming. Using our online application, you have the ability to expedite the process and easily upload all your banking and income documents. Your Mortgage Home Loan Advisor will help your home loan experience go smoothly.
Yes, please visit our Credit Cards page to learn more and fill out an application online.
While it seems like one extra unnecessary step, a pre-approval strengthens any offer you make once you have decided on a home to purchase.
Yes, there is a per transaction limit of $2,000 and a per business day limit of $4,000
First Bank joined the RTP Network as a receiving bank in 2020 and our plan is to also be a sending bank in 2021.
Payments sent to a mobile number or email address can be cancelled by accessing People Pay through eBanking or the mobile app as long as the recipient has not claimed the payment. If the money has been claimed, you are unable to cancel.
Money sent using the recipients account information or PayPal cannot be cancelled.
Generally you will need enough funds for your down payment, closing costs and two months of your new payment in reserves.
Yes, payments can be tracked by accessing People Pay through the eBanking or the mobile app.
Yes, there is a .50 per transaction fee (only applies to successful transactions).
No, payments can only be sent to individuals with U.S. based financial institutions or credit unions.
The person receiving the money will be sent a notification to the email or phone number you entered in People Pay for the contact with instructions on how to claim it. You will be notified of the payment status to your primary email.
Recipients will follow the instructions sent in the text message or email address. The recipient will decide what account they would like their funds deposited into.
People Pay users, can set up a preference to have all incoming People Pay payments deposited into a single account. Once the recipient enables this feature, they will receive an email or text message indicating the incoming payment was automatically deposited into the selected bank account. This People Pay feature makes it faster and easier for recipients to receive their money.