First Foundation Bank is headquartered in IRVINE and is the 11th largest bank in the state of California. It is also the 136th largest bank in the nation. It was established in 2007 and as of March of 2025, it had grown to 503 employees at 30 locations. First Foundation Bank's money market rates are 10X the national average, and it has a B+ health rating.
Good Bank With High Rates, Slow ACH's. Info About Online Accounts
A lot of good things about this bank, with only two negatives.
--Great customer service, US-based, real employees not a call center
--If you live near a branch there are also branches you can go into
--High rates, at least for their on-line accounts
--Transparant. They're the type to dot every "i" and cross every "t". Example: check hold times are longer for new customers for the first 30 days, but everything was clearly explained and spelled out. They also send confirmation emails for everything from logging in to the status of your ACH transfer
For their online high yield savings or money market accounts:
--You can link up to 5 external accounts in your online banking, with both plaid or microdeposits an option
--ACH limits currently are $100,000 per rolling 3-day period, with $250,000 per month. It might be possible to raise if you call but I haven't done so
--Any administrative type request for your online account needs to be done over the phone, but if you live near a branch you can do non administrative things in any branch, such as deposit, withdraw, get starter checks
--Checks can be written for your online money market account. Boxes cost about $20 but if you live near a branch and only need a few checks, they will print some starter checks with your name and address on them for free
--ATM card for savings or debit card for MM are free and they will reimburse ATM fees up to $20 for each time, no limit. But if you don't live near a branch you can't deposit checks via the ATM to FF directly, since they use AllPoint+ network, and AllPoint's deposit ATM's only accept cash deposits, not checks
--An account is dormant after 2 years, so doing an activity every 1 to 1.5 years should be fine
--$1,000 to open online savings / money market, but after open no minimum balance or fee. If your balance is $0 then account will be closed in time, but as long as there is at least 1 cent it will be fine.
--ACH speed is one of the few negatives with FF. Using their system, ACH's are S-L-O-W in both directions, taking 3 full business days, and won't actually show until the 4th day. So if you log in on Sunday to set up an ACH for Monday, it won't show up until early Thurs morning....... Mon, Tue, Wed, and will finally show early Thurs morn. If you use your other bank instead, it can be much quicker. I have another bank that is fast, and when I need funds from FF I use that other bank, and the funds are there in 24 hours
--- CONCLUSION ---
There are a lot of good things with First Foundation and their high rate online accounts. The only negatives are slow ACH's using their system, and not being able to deposit checks in an ATM if you don't live near a branch. But I am very much a happy customer of theirs right now.
If you only need one online high yield account with them I suggest the money market instead of savings, since they are almost the same but you can write checks from the money market.
Good Bank With High Rates, Slow ACH's, Info About Online Accounts
A lot of good things about this bank, with only two negatives.
--Very good customer service, US-based, real employees not a call center
--If you live near a branch there are also physical branches you can go into
--High rates, at least for their on-line offerings
--Transparant. They're the type to dot every "i" and cross every "t". Example: check hold times are longer for new customers for the first 30 days, but everything was clearly explained and spelled out. They also send confirmation emails for everything from logging in to the status of your ACH transfer
For their online high yield savings or money market accounts:
--You can link up to 5 external accounts in your online banking, with both plaid or microdeposits an option
--ACH limits currently are $100,000 per rolling 3-day period, with $250,000 per month. It might be possible to raise if you call but I haven't done so
--Any administrative type request for your online account needs to be done over the phone, but if you live near a branch you can do non administrative things in any branch, such as deposit, withdraw, get starter checks
--Checks can be written for your online money market account. Boxes cost about $20 but if you live near a branch and only need a few checks, they will print some starter checks with your name and address on them for free
--ATM card for savings or debit card for MM are free and they will reimburse ATM fees up to $20 for each time, no limit. But if you don't live near a branch you can't deposit checks via the ATM to FF directly, since they use AllPoint+ network, and AllPoint's deposit ATM's only accept cash deposits, not checks
--An account is dormant after 2 years, so doing an activity every 1 to 1.5 years should be fine
--$1,000 to open online savings / money market, but after open no minimum balance or fee. If your balance is $0 then account will be closed in time, but as long as there is at least 1 cent it will be fine.
--ACH speed is one of the few negatives with FF. Using their system, ACH's are S-L-O-W in both directions, taking 3 full business days, and won't actually show until the 4th day. So if you log in on Sunday to set up an ACH for Monday, it won't show up until early Thurs morning....... Mon, Tue, Wed, and will finally show early Thurs morn. If you use your other bank instead, it can be much quicker. I have another bank that is fast, and when I need funds from FF I use that other bank, and the funds are there in 24 hours
--- CONCLUSION ---
There are a lot of good things with First Foundation and their high rate online accounts. The only negatives are slow ACH's using their system, and not being able to deposit checks in an ATM if you don't live near a branch. But I am very much a happy customer of theirs right now.
If you only need one online high yield account with them I suggest the money market instead of savings, since they are almost the same but you can write checks from the money market.
A Good Longitudinal Experience
I was searching online for someplace to park some of my emergency fund when I found First Foundation Bank. I never had any problem moving money electronically and all my ACHs went smoothly both in an out.
They have an English speaking US based customer service who is most efficient and friendly.
This bank really looks out for their customers. They phoned me a couple times when I moved funds of over $500 or so and wouldn’t release my money until I personally OKd it after a rigorous verification process that isn’t repeated anywhere in the online banking world.
First Foundation doesn’t bill itself as an HYSA but they are still one of the leaders in high yield savings but I passed them by when shopping for a CD.
Their savings acct rates are still higher and holding their own against the banks that advert themselves as high yield savings. Im looking at you C1, Disco, and Chase. They have a website that allows you to enter all your banking and credit card info but I don’t want that degree of thoroughness contained on one site out of an abundance of caution. Bank health is an A+ ratied . You get refunded all ATM fees which they initiated on their own. Other banks complied after being named in a class action lawsuit.
Most working class are repeating Wall Street investors who want a return to zero interest but not me or First Foundation. I’m happy I chose this bank and the people who run it as my choice to do business. YMMV
Very Good Experience
I've been with First Foundation for 2 or 3 years and have always received excellent customer service.
Gary Ketenchian in Sherman Oaks has gone above and beyond when it comes to customer service. Their online savings rate is near the top offered in online banking. I will continue to refer friends to bank with them.
L.B.
Data as of Q1 2025
Learn why bank health mattersHealth Grade Components
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| FDIC Certificate # | 58647 |
| Year Established | 2007 |
| Employees | 503 |
| Primary Regulator | FDIC |
| Profit Margin | |
|---|---|
| Return on Assets - YTD | 0.25% |
| Return on Equity - YTD | 2.59% |
| Annual Interest Income | $143.2MM |
| Assets and Liabilities | ||
|---|---|---|
| Assets | Q1 2025vs Q1 2024 | $12.56B$13.56B |
| Loans | Q1 2025vs Q1 2024 | $8.96B$10.06B |
| Deposits | Q1 2025vs Q1 2024 | $9.59B$10.66B |
| Equity Capital | Q1 2025vs Q1 2024 | $1.2B$1.07B |
| Loan Loss Allowance | Q1 2025vs Q1 2024 | $35.2MM$29.3MM |
| Unbacked Noncurrent Loans | Q1 2025vs Q1 2024 | $38.8MM$17.8MM |
| Real Estate Owned | Q1 2025vs Q1 2024 | $6.2MM$6.2MM |
