First National Bank Review: A Regional Bank With Some Solid Deposit Accounts

First National Bank offers a single savings account to its customers.

The First National Bank FirstRate Savings account is First National Bank's basic savings account product. It has a $50 minimum initial deposit (if opened online), and charges a $5 monthly fee, which can be waived with a $500 average daily balance. It offers a tiered interest rate structure, meaning that higher balances get better interest rates, but even for large-balance accounts, the First National Bank FirstRate Savings doesn't pay competitive rates.

First National Bank offers several different CD accounts, some of which are competitive and some of which aren't.

First National Bank Standard CDs

First National Bank's standard CDs come in terms ranging from three months to five years, and have a $500 minimum deposit requirement. They have some strong features, such as the ability to have interest paid directly to you throughout the term, but their interest rates are not competitive.

First National Bank Special CDs

On the other hand, First National Bank offers some special CDs for customers who deposit at least $5,000 (but up to $10,000, depending on the term). And these have highly competitive interest rates, especially for the 5-month and 7-month terms.

Savers Goal CDs

First National Bank's Savers Goal CDs are a somewhat unique product. Instead of simply making a one-time deposit, like you'd do with most CDs, the Savers Goal allows you to open an account with as little as $100, and you can set up automatic deposits and/or make additional deposits whenever you want.

The Savers Goal CDs only come in 12-month terms. However, they have very low interest rates, so savers who want to gradually build their CDs would likely be better off looking at an online bank that doesn't have any CD minimum deposit requirements.

To its credit, First National Bank offers excellent APYs on some of its special CDs, but not everyone has $5,000 or $10,000 to deposit -- and even if you do, it's a good idea to shop around for the best fit.

First National Bank offers a wide variety of checking account products, and they are each designed for a specific type of customer.

First National Bank Freestyle Checking

The First National Bank Freestyle Checking account is First National Bank's basic checking account product. It offers a Visa debit card, online statements, bill pay, and no minimum balance requirement. There are no monthly fees, as long as you agree to receive your statements electronically, and there's unlimited check writing.

First National Bank Lifestyle Checking

The First National Bank Lifestyle Checking account is designed to be a step above the basic checking account. It has the features of the First National Bank Freestyle Checking account, but also has a completely free 3" x 5" safe deposit box (a unique feature), free paper statements, and more. The First National Bank Lifestyle Checking account also earns interest -- although a relatively low APY -- on balances of $2,500 or more. To waive the monthly fee, you'll need a $1,000 average daily balance or $10,000 in combined First National Bank deposit or loan balances.

First National Bank Premierstyle Checking

The First National Bank Premierstyle Checking account is First National Bank's top-tier checking account. It pays interest on balances of $1,000 or more, and offers some valuable perks, such as free stop payment requests, free custom checks, a free safe deposit box, no overdraft fees, and more. However, it has a $25 monthly fee, which can be waived with an average daily balance of $7,500 or combined First National Bank balances of $25,000.

First National Bank eStyle Account (Checkless)

First National Bank offers two types of "checkless" checking accounts, known as the eStyle and eStyle Plus accounts. Both have no overdraft fees, and are designed for customers who exclusively use digital methods (or ATM/debit cards) to pay bills and send money. They offer free online bill pay, the ability to send and receive money with Zelle, and more.

The eStyle account doesn't earn interest, and has a $5 monthly fee that can be waived by setting up direct deposit or by completing at least five transactions per month. It doesn't have a ton of features, but is a solid product for customers who want a basic checking account and don't really need to write physical checks.

First National Bank eStyle Plus Account (Checkless)

As mentioned, First National Bank offers two types of "checkless" checking accounts, known as the eStyle and eStyle Plus accounts. The eStyle Plus account is the premium version.

For starters, the eStyle Plus account has a higher monthly service charge than the basic eStyle account, but it earns interest on balances from $0 to $2,500. The eStyle Plus also comes with $12 in monthly ATM fee reimbursement, while the eStyle does not. The eStyle Plus account has a $25 monthly charge, which can be waived with an average daily balance of $1,000 or more (or $25,000 in combined First National Bank balances).

The First National Bank FirstRate Money Market account combines some of the best features of savings and checking accounts in one. It offers a tiered APY as well as the ability to write checks, as well as to have a Visa debit card connected to the account. There is a $10 monthly service charge, and you'll need a $5,000 average daily balance to waive it, so it is better suited for customers who tend to keep relatively high balances in savings.

First National Bank provides in-person customer service at its network of more than 350 branches, and also provides phone support from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. The bank has been in business for 160 years (not a typo) and has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

First National Bank doesn't have a relationship benefits program.

First National Bank offers a solid variety of account types and fee-free options, especially for a branch-based bank. But it isn't right for everyone.

Capital One Bank

Capital One is best known for its credit cards, but it actually does have branches in several states -- including a few where First National Bank operates. However, it offers savings account products with much higher APYs, a greater variety of high-yield CDs, and several other top-rated products.

SoFi Bank

SoFi Bank could be a good fit for customers who don't need a branch-based bank. It has an excellent high-yield savings and checking account combo, as well as some top-rated loan products. It also offers an easy-to-use investment platform, credit cards, and more.

First National Bank is a solid branch-based regional bank that could be a good fit, especially for customers looking for a good checking account. It isn't right for everyone, so be sure to check out a few of our top rated banks before making a decision.

• Auto loans
• Boat loans
• RV loans
• Lines of credit
• Student loans
• Investment advisory and brokerage services
• Private banking
• Insurance services
• Health savings accounts (HSAs)

First National Bank credit cards

• FNB SmartCash Credit Card - Earns 2% cash back on all qualifying purchases.
• FNB SmartRate Credit Card - No rewards, but a low permanent interest rate.
• FNB SmartRewards Credit Card - 1 point per $1 on purchases, which can be redeemed for merchandise, gift cards, and more.

First National Bank mortgages

• Standard (conforming) mortgages - fixed and adjustable rate
• FHA mortgages
• Jumbo mortgages
• VA mortgages
• Home equity loans
• Construction loans