DEPOSIT QUESTIONS
What if I have more than $250,000 in my accounts at FirstBank Financial
Services?
All deposit accounts have been transferred in their entirety to Regions
Bank based in Birmingham, AL. All former FirstBank Financial Services offices
will reopen for normal business hours on Monday, February 9, 2009, as branches
of Regions Bank
As an All-Deposit Transfer transaction, the total of all deposit accounts,
whether within FDIC insurance limits or not, have been assumed by Regions Bank
and will be available for business as usual.
I have been advised there is a hold on my account. What does that mean?
It is possible a depositor’s account was held due to delinquent
loans where the depositor is the borrower or guarantor. Additionally,
any account pledged as collateral for a loan will continue to be held.
A letter will be sent informing you of any holds placed by the FDIC,
along with instructions on how to proceed. If you have any questions
regarding these holds, please call your loan officer or the FDIC at
the number provided in the letter.
Can I continue to write checks or use my ATM/Debit card?
You will be able to continue using your personal checks at this time, and
your ATM/Debit card will continue to work. The ATM machine will be unavailable
for a short period of time on Friday for processing; however, it will be
operational shortly after that is accomplished and will be available as usual.
Will my automatic payments through Billpay continue?
BillPay service will continue without interruption.
I am a deposit broker or I have brokered deposits. What do I need to
do?
As an All-Deposit Transfer transaction, the total of all deposit accounts,
including brokered deposits, have been assumed by Regions Bank. Be advised,
however, that from and after the date of closing, the Regions Bank will accrue
and pay interest on deposit liabilities at a rate it shall determine; accordingly,
the Regions Bank shall permit depositors, including brokered depositors,
impacted by reduced rates to withdraw their deposits without penalty for
early withdrawal.
If you are a Depository Trust Company (DTC) participant broker, you must contact
the DTC with any questions or withdrawal requests. If you are a customer who
has a Regions Bank deposit through a broker, you must contact your broker
with any questions.
A merchant will not honor my check. What can I do?
You can provide a copy of this document or a copy of the press
release (http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/press/2009/pr09017.html)
since both documents state all deposits
have been transferred to Regions Bank, and it is business as usual.
Copies of
this press release will be available at the former FirstBank Financial
Services branches. Depositors or merchants can also call the FDIC
at 1-800-823-3215 or the former FirstBank Financial
Services branches.
How do I claim my account(s)?
Your account(s) has already been transferred to Regions Bank, and your
account(s) will be handled as usual. Any withdrawal, renewal or additional
deposits will “claim” your account. Please be advised that
if there is no activity in your account in the next 18 months, that money
will be turned over to your state as unclaimed property. Unclaimed property
can be located by visiting www.missingmoney.com or contacting your state
treasurer ’s office or office of unclaimed property.
How does this failure affect me?
All deposits (both insured and uninsured) of FirstBank Financial Services
have been transferred to Regions Bank, and it will be business as usual.
If you held an account at FirstBank Financial Services, you now have an
account at Regions Bank that is available to you at your former FirstBank
Financial Services branches during regular business hours.
If you had a loan with FirstBank Financial Services, please continue to
make your payments to the same address as you have in the past until you
are instructed otherwise. Continue to make your checks payable to FirstBank
Financial Services.
The former FirstBank Financial Services locations will reopen for normal
business hours on Monday, February 9, 2009. You will have continued access to
your money through your ATM/debit card and by writing checks.
Can FirstBank Financial Services customers use Regions Bank branches?
No, not at this time. During the transition of FirstBank Financial Services records
to Regions Bank systems, FirstBank Financial Services customers should continue
to conduct their banking business at former FirstBank Financial Services branches.
You will be notified when you can use Regions Bank branches.
Similarly, existing Regions Bank customers cannot use former FirstBank Financial
Services branches and should continue to conduct their business at Regions Bank
branches.
I already have other deposit accounts with the new bank. When combined
with balances at this bank, my deposits exceed $250,000. Are all
funds insured?
The transferred accounts will be separately insured for at least six months
after the merger. This grace period gives a depositor the opportunity to
restructure his or her accounts, if necessary.
CDs from the assumed bank are separately insured until the
earliest maturity date after the end of the six-month grace period. CDs
that mature during the six-month period and are renewed for the same term
and in the same dollar amount (either with or without accrued interest)
continue to be separately insured until the first maturity date after the
six-month period. If a CD matures during the six-month grace period and
is renewed on any other basis, it would be separately insured only until
the end of the six-month grace period.
What will happen to my direct deposits?
Direct Deposits will continue as normal, including Social Security checks.
If you need to change anything in the future, please contact or visit your
former FirstBank Financial Services branch location to make those arrangements.
Will I incur an early withdrawal penalty if I close my CD before
maturity?
No. You may withdraw funds from any transferred account without an early
withdrawal penalty until you enter into a new deposit agreement with your
new bank. Entering into a new deposit agreement can be done by either renewing
your CD or making a deposit to, or a withdrawal from, your account.
How will I get my final account statement(s) from FirstBank Financial
Services?
You will receive your account statements at the same time you have received
them in the past.
Will I continue to earn interest at the same rate?
All interest on insured deposits accrued through Friday, February 6, 2009,
will be paid at your same rate. Regions Bank will be reviewing rates and
will provide further information soon.
If you deposited funds through a broker, the interest will accrue and be
paid through Friday, February 6, 2009.
Can I cash my interest check or cashier's check?
Interest checks and cashier's checks will continue to clear.
Will my Internet connection to FirstBank Financial Services continue
to work?
Yes.
What if I have an Individual Retirement Account (IRA)? Will my savings
still be insured?
Yes, all deposits, including IRAs have been transferred in their entirety
to Regions Bank. IRA funds are insured separately from other types of accounts
up to $250,000.
If you close your IRA before maturity, you have 60 days to roll this over into
another retirement vehicle. You should consult IRS Publication 590 and/or your
tax advisor concerning the possible tax consequences of such distribution. IRS
Publication 590 may be obtained by contacting your local IRS office or via the
Internet at www.irs.gov.
Will I lose anything on my deposit account?
No. All accounts have been transferred in their entirety to Regions
Bank and will be available starting on Monday, February 9, 2009.
What will happen to the checks which have not cleared my account?
Checks drawn on FirstBank Financial Services that did not clear before
Friday, February 6, 2009, will be honored up to your available balance.
What if I need information regarding my account during the time
FirstBank Financial Services was in business?
Please contact a representative of your new bank at your former FirstBank
Financial Services branch location to obtain a copy of any records you
may need or visit your branch.
Who will send my 1098 and/or 1099 information after the end of the
year?
Regions Bank will be responsible for mailing your 1099 tax information.
Your 1098 reporting will be done by the FDIC or the servicer of your loan.
You will be notified of any changes in ownership or servicing of your loan.
Will I collect my uninsured deposits?
All deposits have been transferred in their entirety to Regions Bank;
therefore, there are no uninsured deposits.
Can funds be wired to me?
Please contact your former FirstBank Financial Services branch
location to obtain information regarding your wire request.
LOAN QUESTIONS
Will my automatic transaction payment still occur on its assigned
date?
You should experience no disruption in this service. We encourage you
to check your bank account the day after your scheduled draft to verify
the transaction. If the transaction did not occur, please notify your loan
officer and we will research your loan.
Will construction draws continue? Will my project be completed?
Each loan is being reviewed independently, and you should direct your
questions to your loan officer. These will be determined on a case-by-case
basis.
Will my subcontractors be paid as before?
Each loan is being reviewed independently and will be determined on a
case-by-case basis. You should direct your questions to your loan officer.
Will you continue to pay my escrows?
All services previously performed related to your loan will continue.
Should you receive notification that any portion of your taxes or insurance
were not paid, please notify your loan officer immediately.
Are there any changes to fees or charges due to this event?
No. The current fee structure will remain the same.
Who is my lender and has my loan contact changed?
Your loan is currently owned by the FDIC and is being serviced by all
of the same personnel with whom you have worked in the past. All prior
contacts remain the same.
Will my loan be sold?
Your loan may be sold at a future undetermined date. If that occurs,
you will be notified in advance through written correspondence.
If you are concerned about whom your future lender or servicer will be,
you
have the right to independently refinance your loan with
another lender.
Can I continue to perform advances on my personal line of credit?
All lines of credit, including Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOCs), have
been suspended at this time and have been retained by the FDIC.
You may contact Regions Bank at the local branch or call 1-678-583-2265
to discuss establishing
a borrowing relationship.
I have a loan currently in process. How is my loan impacted?
Please contact your loan officer directly.
Will my loan sweep be discontinued?
This will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Please contact your loan officer.
Will my overdraft line of credit continue to cover my overdrafts?
Yes. These lines have been transferred to Regions Bank. Please contact
your new bank if you have additional questions regarding your accounts.
How and where do I make my payments?
You should continue to make your payments as agreed. Make checks payable
to FirstBank Financial Services and utilize the same payment address information.
You may continue to make your payments at the branch or by phone
via check or credit card.
If I refinance with another lender, will my pre-payment penalty be
waived?
Those will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
What will happen to my SBA loan application in process?
The FDIC as Receiver for FirstBank Financial Services will not be originating
any new loans.
If your loan has been approved by the SBA, but is not yet funded, please
contact your loan officer. He will direct you to the proper SBA contact
to help you locate another approved lender.
If your loan is in process, but is not yet approved by the SBA, we will
release your SBA package on file with us to you, and you will need to apply
with another SBA-approved lender. Please contact your loan officer to make
arrangements to retrieve your application from the bank.
What will happen to my loan?
Each loan is currently being reviewed independently to determine the best
action for that individual loan. If you are concerned about whom your future
lender or servicer may be, you have the right to independently refinance
your loan with another lender.
GENERAL QUESTIONS
Why do all deposits, insured and uninsured, pass is some transactions but not in others?
The FDIC is required by law to employ the least-cost
resolution measure for each failed financial institution. The most frequent
result is for the FDIC to transfer only the insured deposits in a merger
transaction. The FDIC is only able to transfer all deposits if the uninsured
amounts are covered by the premium. The FDIC has been able to transfer
all deposits in about 25% of the failures over the past 15 years.
How can I find out more about Federal Deposit Insurance rules?
You may access our website, which contains deposit insurance information and
an Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator (EDIE):
You may also order any FDIC publication:
FDIC Public Information Center
3501 North Fairfax Drive
Room E-1002
Arlington, VA 22226
703-562-2200 Phone
703-562-2296 Fax
publicinfo@fdic.gov
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I represent a TV/Newspaper/Radio and would like some information.
Please contact the Office of Public Affairs:
Washington, D.C.
Is the new bank insured by the FDIC?
Yes. Your deposit at Regions Bank is insured by the FDIC, and each depositor
is insured to at least $250,000, as established by law.
How can I claim the contents of my safe deposit box?
It is business as usual. You may go to your branch and access your safe
deposit box or make appointments by calling your former FirstBank Financial
Services branch location.
I am a shareholder in FirstBank Financial Services, Inc. What happens
to my shares?
The FirstBank Financial Services had no publicly owned stock. Equity shareholders
were invested in the holding company, FirstBank Financial Services, Inc.,
McDonough, GA, and not in the bank. Please contact the holding company with
any questions you may have.
I did some work for FirstBank Financial Services and have not yet been
paid. What should I do?
Please send your bills to the following address:
FDIC as Receiver for FirstBank Financial Services
1601 Bryan Street
Dallas, TX 75201 |
What happened, why did the bank fail?
FirstBank Financial Services, McDonough, GA was closed Friday, February
6, 2009, by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. Subsequently,
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) was appointed Receiver.
According to regulatory policy, there is no advance notice given to the
public. Please see the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance’s
press release for more information.
The good news is that no one lost any deposits as a result
of the closure of FirstBank Financial Services. To protect depositors,
the FDIC Board of Directors approved the assumption of ALL of FirstBank
Financial Services’ deposits by Regions Bank, headquartered in Birmingham,
AL.
How can I apply to work for FDIC as a contractor or employee?
You may access information about doing business with the FDIC at
Procurement
Opportunities (www.fdic.gov/buying/goods/opportunities/index.html)
You must also register in the Central Contractor Registration database at
www.ccr.gov.
Entry into the database is not a guarantee that a contractor will receive a future solicitation.
You may also call 1-866-308-4470 for more information or send an email to
ProcurementOpportunities@fdic.gov.
Please include a statement of your corporate capabilities, contact information and Minority
or Women-Owned Business (MWOB) status, if any.
To review positions currently available at the FDIC, visit
Careers at FDIC (www.fdic.gov/about/jobs/index.html).
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