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First Foundation Bank


Overview / Commentary
www.firstfoundationinc.com
949-732-6356
18101 Von Karman Ave
Irvine, CA 92612

First Foundation Bank is headquartered in IRVINE and is the 11th largest bank in the state of California. It is also the 134th largest bank in the nation. It was established in 2007 and as of June of 2023, it had grown to 538 employees at 30 locations. First Foundation Bank's money market rates are 12X the national average, but it has a C health rating.

Related Posts

MMA 5.25% New Rate And Opening Info - 11/30/2023

I read the discussion about this account in yesterday's Liquid Account Rates post. I have an Online Savings account with First Foundation that is earning 5.00%. I called today but they would not honor the new MMA rate for my current online savings. I was easily able to open the new MMA online and in spite of the "new money required", fund it with a $1000 transfer from my current online savings account. The MMA is now open and earning 5.25%. I can add additional funds from my online savings at any time and only need to keep $1 in the online savings to keep it open.

First Foundation Online Savings Increases To 5% APY - 7/27/2023

Received email from First Foundation: "We are increasing the rate of your Online Savings account today to 5.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY)."

First Foundation Bank Boosts Online Savings Account Rate - 5/11/2023

First Foundation Bank has boosted the rate on its nationally available Online Savings account to a competitive level. $1k minimum opening deposit of new money.

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Reviews (56)

I Am Floored!!!

Posted by: |

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 hell 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!

4

Friendly & Helpful Customer Service

Posted by: |

I opened a savings account here for the 2.00% instead of the 0.05% offered by my previous bank. I called customer service to have them walk me through opening the account and the person I spoke to was really nice and helpful. I had a particularly positive experience this week and wanted to share. Excited to actually earn something on my savings.

73

High Savings Rates. Difficult Application Process.

Posted by: |

On line set up was not an easy process. First application was rejected because I scanned my driver license instead of taking a photo and uploading to them(they didn't let me know the reason my application was denied until I called). They won't let you scan your ID. So I submitted a second application and took an iPhone photo of my passport and sent to them by email and it was approved. However, there still was a delay in getting account set up so I called customer service. I left a call back number and they called back after about 3 hours later. Then they had a problem identifying my wife's SS number on the application. So I had to send them a photo of her SS card. Then they had a computer problem and had to call back. Finally, the problem was resolved and the account was set up.Their website is very easy to use.

21

Jump Through Hoops

Posted by: |

I opened an Online Savings acct with First Foundation Bank (FFB) and had $1000 transferred from my other Bank's checking account as part of account opening process. Afterwards, I was able to link the SAME outside checking account with my FFB savings account to transfer more funds to FFB. Soon thereafter I received an email from FFB stating my new transfer is on hold until I send them copies of two bank statements from the other bank to verify my identity. I called FFB and the Rep stated my account was being handled by their fraud dept. What??? I asked to be transferred to their fraud dept and spoke to the Rep and she stated that if I don't want to provide 2 statements, they can also accept 1 from the other bank. I stated that $1000 had already been transferred earlier from the SAME outside account without any issues as part of the account opening process, but she stated it was their policy. I transferred my money out of FFB back into my other bank's checking and closed my FFB account. They were making me jump through too many hoops and I didn't have the patience for it anymore.
UPDATE: Opened savings acct with Vio bank on 8/9/2023 and transferred funds from outside bank to Vio. No need to submit any proof of outside bank's statements like FFB had asked me to. Vio bank has been much easier to deal with. But I am not endorsing any bank over the other. FFB did not work out for me. It probably is a good bank. Hopefully it works out for you.

7
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Health
C

Data as of Q2 2023

Learn why bank health matters
Additional Factors: Institutions with a small asset base, a short operating history, or negative return on equity can represent an instability risk beyond what their financial ratios indicate. First Foundation Bank has a negative return on equity.

Health Grade Components

Overall
FDIC Certificate #58647
Year Established2007
Employees538
Primary RegulatorFDIC
Profit Margin
Return on Assets - YTD-3.06%
Return on Equity - YTD-33.14%
Annual Interest Income$284.9MM
Assets and Liabilities
AssetsQ2 2023vs Q2 2022$12.81B$11.23B
LoansQ2 2023vs Q2 2022$10.55B$9.39B
DepositsQ2 2023vs Q2 2022$10.82B$9.60B
Equity CapitalQ2 2023vs Q2 2022$1.08B$1.20B
Loan Loss AllowanceQ2 2023vs Q2 2022$31.5MM$33.2MM
Unbacked Noncurrent LoansQ2 2023vs Q2 2022$10.7MM$14.0MM
Real Estate OwnedQ2 2023vs Q2 2022$6.2MM$6.2MM
Rates
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First Foundation Bank Savings Account Rates

APYMINMAXACCOUNT NAMEVIEW DETAILS
5.00%--Online Savings Account - New Money

First Foundation Bank Money Market Rates

APYMINMAXACCOUNT NAMEVIEW DETAILS
5.25%--Online Money Market Account - New Money

First Foundation Bank CD Rates

APYMINMAXACCOUNT NAMEVIEW DETAILS
5.40%$2.5k-12 Month Online CD - New Money
5.25%$2.5k-9 Month Online CD - New Money
Locations

Availability

Tampa Area

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