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 find how to register by visiting Business Mobile eBanking OR visit the app store on their mobile device and search for First Bank Biz to Go.
First Bank Debit Cards have a $2,000.00 purchase limit. If you need to make a purchase over this amount, please contact the First Bank Service Center at 1-800-760-2265 option 2.
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.
Personal
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.
Contact a First Bank Service Representative at 800-760-2265 Monday-Saturday 7a.m.-9p.m. CST, Saturday 9a.m – 5:30p.m. CST
Business
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. CST.
Please contact our First Bank Service Center at 1-800-760-2265 option 2 for any questions you may have regarding not being able to hear/see an account.
Client may register for the Mobile App by clicking here and choosing the app links OR they may go to the app store on their mobile device and search for First Bank On the Go.
Clients can use the following list of text commands:
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.
Log into eBanking. Select People Pay from the ‘Pay and Transfer’ tab at the top of the home page or by clicking on the People Pay icon located in the ‘Money Center’ and follow the enrollment instructions. Once enrolled from eBanking, you can access via the First Bank on the Go Mobile App.
Create a contact by entering the recipients:
- Bank Account information- 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 OR
- 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. You will be notified of the payment status to your primary email.
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.
Login to your eBanking account. Click on the “Pay and Transfer tab” at the top of the page. Click on “Pay Bills”. For a tutorial, watch this video.
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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.
The interest rate will display as 0.00% because the rate plan for this product is in two different tiers. See Product Rate Sheet for the current Interest Rates.
Yes, once the first statement has generated you will be able to see the APY earned and interest earned on the account. After the first statement this will also populate the values in eBanking for the Last Statement APY earned and Interest YTD section.
For complete bill pay instructions, click here.
No. It is provided to you at no cost so you can have more control over your card.
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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.
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.
Built for the digital age, all federally-insured U.S. depository institutions are eligible to utilize the RTP Network.
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.
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.
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.
Yes, First Bank is proud to now participate in the RTP Network as a receiving bank.
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 cannot be cancelled.
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.
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You may elect to begin receiving your paper statement again at any time.
You can also call 800-760-2265 and one of our First Bank Service Center representatives will be more than happy to assist you.
A bill payment is either sent electronically or by check. You are able to verify the method of payment by going to ‘View Payment History’ for the payee and selecting ‘Payment details’ next to the payment you are inquiring about. The payment type will be listed as Electronic or Check, with the check number. The deliver by date is the expected date for the merchant to receive the payment. Check payments are sent 3-4 business days prior to the payment date.
*Not all payees will receive an electronic payment. A payee must have an agreement with the bill pay vendor to receive electronic transfers. If no agreement is in place, a check will be sent.
If you are using mobile wallet functionality (Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay) where the purchase transaction is utilizing the First Bank debit card tied to your Performance Checking, then yes, it will look just like a regular purchase. Account to Account transfers utilizing mobile wallet or an incoming Zelle transfer that uses the debit card does not count as a purchase.
No, there is a limit one per person (primary owner or TIN).
For electronic payments, a proof of payment service request will need to be opened by a FBSC agent. Our bill pay team will contact the payee to provide the tracking and account information to assist with locating the payment. For check payments- Please verify the mailing address for the payee. If the payment appears to be lost, a stop payment can be placed on a lost check at no fee.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
First Bank joined the RTP Network as a receiving bank in 2020 and our plan is to also be a sending bank in 2021.
Generally you will need enough funds for your down payment, closing costs and two months of your new payment in reserves.