Important Information about COVID-19
Next Round of PPP Loans - January 2021
On December 27, 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 was signed into law and included within the act is an additional round of funding for Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loans. First Bank will be participating in this round and will begin accepting applications from qualified candidates once we are given the green light by the SBA. Details will be made available shortly. If you participated in the first round of PPP loans with First Bank, you will receive an email when we commence accepting applications. For more information, visit our links to the SBA and Treasury websites on the left menu
Second Round of Economic Impact (Stimulus) Payments Update
12/29/2020 - $600-per-person economic impact (also known as “stimulus”) payments are expected to arrive in people’s bank accounts as soon as December 29th. Just like in the first round released in April 2020, these payments will be deposited directly into the bank account individuals used when filing their 2019 tax return. If you received a previous stimulus payment, look for it to arrive in the same bank account.
Checks and prepaid cards will be mailed to those who have not provided their bank information to the IRS in the last two years and have not provided that information as a non-filer.
The maximum benefits will apply to individuals with an adjusted gross income (AGI) below $75,000, or couples with an AGI below $150,000. These individuals will receive $600 per person including dependents. As an example, a family of four could receive $2,400.
Please be patient if you have not yet received your payment. During the previous round of Economic Impact Payments, the IRS created an online portal where individuals could check their payment status. A similar initiative is expected for this round, but that information has not yet been released.
PLEASE REMEMBER: Fraudsters are likely to use this as a way to scam people. The government will not contact you by phone, text, or email about this payment.
Branch Status Update 12-3-2020
Due to the rising cases of COVID-19 in our region and in the interest of keeping our customers and employees safe, our branch lobbies will be closed to all customer traffic (except for safe deposit box access) until further notice. Branches will still offer Drive Thru service and Curbside Service.
If you need access to a safe deposit box, please call your branch to schedule a visit. We have procedures in place to minimize contact and keep branch traffic to a minimum.
As a reminder, we ask that you do not enter any First Bank location if you:
• Are feeling sick for any reason;
• Have cared for or been in close contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 14 days. Please note that this restriction does not apply to health care professionals;
• Have been advised to self-quarantine; or
• Are currently infected with COVID-19 or are undergoing treatment for COVID-19.
If you need to conduct a transaction that cannot be processed through the drive thru, please contact your branch for curbside service. https://www.firstbanknj.com/branch-and-atm-locator
6/9/2020 - NJEDA Small Business Emergency Grant Program Phase 2 will begin accepting applications on 6/9/2020 at 9 am
NJEDA will process the applications on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be no application fee.
NJEDA will award a total of $45 million in federal CARES Act funding to small businesses. To support the Governor’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, $15 million will be reserved for businesses in Opportunity Zone-eligible census tracts, $15 million of Phase 2 funding will be set aside to support qualified businesses located in one of the 715 census tracts that were eligible to be selected as a New Jersey Opportunity Zone. NJEDA Small Business Emergency Grant
**First Bank is not involved in the process of this program, we are passing this information along as a courtesy**
5/18/2020 - Bucks County Commissioners Outline $6 million "Back to Work Small" Business Grant Program
This program is available to help businesses based in Bucks County - please see the below link for full details. For questions, contact the Bucks County Commissioners Office. Bucks County "Back to Work" Business Grant
**First Bank is not involved in the process of this program, we are passing this information along as a courtesy.**
Where can I find out about my Economic Impact (stimulus) Payment status?
The IRS has a website with full details and resources on Economic Impact Payments. Per an IRS press release on April 10, 2020, eligible taxpayers who filed tax returns for either 2019 or 2018 and chose direct deposit of their refund will receive their payments starting the week of April 13, 2020. Individuals who receive Social Security retirement, survivors or disability benefits, SSDI or who receive Railroad Retirement benefits but did not file a return for 2019 or 2018 will automatically receive a payment in the near future. Those who received a refund in 2018 or 2019 by paper check rather than direct deposit will be issued a check. For full details on payments, please visit the above IRS website.
4/15/2020 -The IRS has released a "Get My Payment" resource webpage where you can check the status of stimulus payments.
Please keep in mind that we are only receiving these funds as they are presented to us by the IRS. First Bank does not have the ability to process deposits to closed accounts and we are required to return these payments to the IRS.
The IRS will mail a letter about the payment to the taxpayer's last known address within 15 days of payment made. This letter will provide information on how the payment was made and how to report any failure to receive said payment.
You may have not received your payment at First Bank due to the following reasons:
- The IRS did not process a refund for you directly to your bank account in either 2018 or 2019
- Your gross income based on your most recent tax return exceeds the maximum limits
- You have changed banks and the last routing information they have is not for First Bank
What is First Bank doing to assist customers who have been financially impacted by COVID-19?
- ATM FEES: In addition to our onsite ATMs, First Bank is a member of the Allpoint Network, a network of 55,000+ ATMs that can be accessed surcharge free. These ATMs are found in local stores and major area retailers such as Wawa, Rite Aid, CVS, Walgreens, and Target to name a few! First Bank does not charge customers a fee to use any foreign ATM; however, the owner of the ATM may charge a fee if they are outside of the Allpoint Network.
- NSF/OVERDRAFT FEES: Customers who are impacted financially by COVID-19 can have NSF/Overdraft fees waived and/or refunded by contacting their local branch office for review.
- CD Penalties & Fees: First Bank will consider waivers of early withdrawal penalties on a case-by-case basis if caused due to COVID-19 related impact. Please contact a local branch office for review.
- Business & Commercial Borrowers: The state and federal government have created assistance programs to help borrowers who are impacted by COVID-19, and First Bank is working with customers on loan deferrals and government loan and assistance programs. Please contact your lender or Personal Banker for more information.
What is First Bank doing to help prevent the spread of COVID-19?
- First Bank is taking additional measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In compliance with New Jersey Executive Order #122, and consistent with guidelines issued by the CDC, any employee who is located in a branch or office setting will be required to wear a face-protective covering and gloves. Also consistent with this guidance, customers who come in for appointments will also be required to wear their own face-protective covering. For more information on this guidance, please visit the CDC's Resource Page
- Most of our employees in the back offices are working from home. Those who are working in offices are spread out and practicing social distancing.
- Our branch staff, the front-line heroes of our organization, are scheduled in shorter shifts, and will be given additional paid time off to help balance between work and caring for themselves and their families.
- Employees who are showing signs of illness are required to stay home.
- Branches have been limited to drive-thru and appointment only access. Those coming in for appointments are screened on recent travel to help minimize the risk of COVID-19 spread.
- Cleaning our locations remains a priority - our locations are sanitized and cleaned on a daily basis.
- Unnecessary business travel has been suspended, as have large events and in-person meetings. We now conduct all meetings via conference and video calls.
What remote banking options does First Bank offer if I cannot access a bank branch?
- Online banking and mobile banking for account monitoring and transfers
- Mobile check deposit for depositing to your First Bank accounts
- Deposit capabilities at our on-site ATMs
- Telephone Banking for balance information, transfers, & recent transactions - (877) 821-2265 Option 4
- Access to the Allpoint Network’s 55,000+ ATMs for cash withdrawals
How can I keep myself up-to-date on COVID-19 related scams?
In times of stress, fraudsters are looking to take advantage of the situation, so please be wary of scams going around that prey on the uncertainty that accompanies COVID-19. You can get information on staying safe from fraudsters by visiting official government websites, some of which are listed on this page's side menu.
First Bank does not solicit information (Social Security number, account numbers, credit card numbers, passwords, etc.) by means of email. If you receive an email requesting confidential information from someone claiming to represent First Bank, do not respond to the email - call us to report this activity.