Written by Melanie Pincus | Edited by Ali Cybulski | Published on 07/14/2025
First Foundation Bank, part of Dallas-based First Foundation Inc., was founded in 2007 and is the 119th-largest bank in the nation at the time of writing. The bank has competitive money market rates and a B+ health rating.
- Checking accounts: First Foundation Bank offers three personal checking accounts and five business checking accounts. Minimum opening deposits are $100 for a personal checking account and either $100 or $500 for a business account. Some personal and business accounts earn interest; some also charge monthly fees that you can waive by maintaining a minimum balance. One checking account is designed for seniors.
- Savings account: A business savings account, a personal savings account and a senior savings account are available from First Foundation Bank. You can avoid monthly fees by maintaining a minimum daily balance. The personal savings account earns a high annual percentage yield (APY).
- Money market accounts: Choose from a personal money market account or a business money market account. With the personal account, higher balances earn interest at higher rates. You’ll need at least $1,000 to open a business money market account and $500 for a personal account.
- Certificates of deposit (CDs): First Foundation Bank offers a personal CD, a personal IRA CD and a business CD. Each requires a $2,500 minimum opening deposit. CDs can help you earn strong rates on funds that you’re comfortable not touching for the duration of the CD term. First Foundation Bank provides online CDs in a choice of two short terms.
Customer service: Call 888-405-4332 for personal online banking support from 5 a.m to 8 p.m. Pacific time (PT) Monday through Thursday; from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday PT; and 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday PT.
Customers can also email [email protected] or access digital support via WebEx.
First Foundation Bank branch locations are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (local time) Monday through Friday and from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. by appointment.
First Foundation Bank offers online and mobile banking, including the ability to pay bills online and send money with Zelle.
First Foundation Bank has an A rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Pros and cons of First Foundation Bank
PROS
• Offers interest-earning checking accounts
• Provides mobile banking
• Comes with a competitive APY on its high-yield savings account (HYSA)
CONS
• Limited CD terms available
• Rate details not clearly advertised
• Branch locations available only in five states.
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 |
