First Foundation Bank

One of the best banks I've ever dealt with, never any lines, no wait, customer service is fantastic, and great savings rates! I have a few accounts at different banks, and I rate Wells Fargo as the worst, with long waits at every branch, and First Foundation as my favorite to walk into!

Do not trust these people with your money! Melanie Breland and Shelly O'Byrne are absolutely the least equipped people to handle money. I wouldn't trust these people with a penny. Uncommunicative and rude. They act like you work for them and that the money they're managing for you is their own. And don't even try to ask for an accounting; they have had my trust for a year and a half, and I have not received a single piece of accounting. Extremely shady, if you ask me. Save yourself the headache and avoid this bank at all costs.

First Foundation memo post all incoming or outgoing Zelle transactions. This causes a one day delay in posting which defeats the entire purpose of Zelle. Most banks process zelle transactions within a few minutes not days.

Update 9-26-23

I have now used them for several days, and it gets better and better and better. They have every single thing I ever wished for in a bank and then some: Savings with fantastic rates, checking with a perfect bill paying app, easy app for depositing checks, various methods of verification so if for some reason you cannot receive texts or calls you can still get in safely but without spending hours. On top of which, when I called customer service on three different occasions I got someone almost immediately and they extremely pleasantly and efficiently answered my questions.

I think I died and went to heaven. WOW!!!

Original review:
I am ditching Capital One 360 for making my life a living nightmare over the last month when I tried two very simple tweaks to my account.

Searching for banks online, I found I could get a much better return than theirs as well. First Foundation Bank had all the functionalities I wanted, a savings account with a terrific interest rate, a checking account with bill paying, and the ability to operate without a mobile, if so desired.

So I decided that it would be worth the lengthy application and approval process described in some reviews. Imagine my surprise when I opened two accounts plus added a joint holder and my church as a beneficiary (the two things I tried to accomplish with Capital One to the point of going insane) in exactly three minutes! WOW!!!!

What a joy!

I have my emergency savings parked at First Foundation. I switched to them during the pandemic when interest paid on savings was low everywhere, but First Foundation was offering higher interest on savings than others.

My only complaint is that although I hold a savings account with them and they are a national online bank, they lack a remote deposit feature with their online banking and app. I don't care much because I have that feature with my Capital One and Citi accounts, so that's where I do most of my depositing. I don't understand why First Foundation hasn't incorporated that into our online experience, but I have other options and haven't experienced any trouble from it. Customer service can sometimes be unimpressive, but most things involve a trade-off, as has been my experience with FFB.

Holy smokes! Better take a week of vacation which is the amount of time to open an account that will actually let you transfer money in. So many hurdles and issues in the first week. Go to CIT same or higher rate and they are super easy to deal with. You have been warned. FYI I am able to put up with a lot of crap and I don't give up but this bank kicked my butt.

Poor slow customer service. Worst bank EVER. Slow. Unorganized. Unfriendly. Unwilling to help me with handicap
Just horrible all the way around

I moved some of my savings over to First Foundation Bank last year when interest rates were minimal. Since then, I have been enjoying a high interest rate on my savings. Their website and app enable a full spectrum of my banking needs. I haven't done much with my account except let it sit, and I've seen some impressive interest income that offsets my losses due to rampant inflation. The fees from checking account clients apparently make up for the interest and perks that savers receive on their accounts. The sign-in doesn't seem to accept the same password each time I try to sign in, leaving me locked out after hours, weekends, and holidays. I'm not worried about it, though. That's why I give the bank 4 stars. I've been able to live with this irregularity as I visit the site only a couple of times a month. Yes, I would recommend First Foundation Bank to a friend.

Horrible access to help. For days now, my wife and I have tried to resolve issues. Card won't work multiple times, and we don't know why. No information or way to resolve the issue online. We call and call to no end. All automated machine responses don't address our issue. I got transferred 4x. It takes approx. 45 minutes to reach the right person, and even then it's not clear what next steps are. Issue occurs again the next day. We call and get hung up on 4+ times.

I saw the highest online savings rate here at First Foundation. This offer is for new money only. It is quick and easy to apply and fund a new account all in one session. I got an email with an account number. I spoke with a very helpful backroom agent over there who confirmed my account was all set up properly. Im happy with the rates, the ease of application, and customer service at First Foundation.

DON'T DO IT!! I should have given up when it took 6 tries just to submit the online app for an online savings. Then I couldn't add a joint account holder. Then I was denied. So I called for help, and was told I would have to reapply in 24 hours and she could tell me why it was denied. So I tried again a few days later. Still had issues. Called again. Second rep said the first rep's info was wrong-you can apply 3x a day. Also told me it was because the security questions for my husband were answered incorrectly (see other reviews). I applied for another account which goes through and THEN she tells me the first rep pushed the other account through. Then I got confirmation emails but didn't know which app/account it was for. Requested instructions to set up online access, but I need an acct number. Got email today saying the rate I was switching for (1.49%) is now down to 1.1%. Totally not worth it. Called again to find out they transferred my $25K, didn't notify or confirm the transfer, still did not send a DocuSign or account number and I cannot access my money. What!!!??? Furthermore, it's $20 to close the account before 90 days! Waiting on follow up email to withdraw the funds, but nothing yet. DON'T DO IT!!!