First Community Bank Review

First Community Bank is well-regarded for its great service across the Coastal Bend region, but it comes with setbacks. Read on for the details.

	Overall Score	3.7
	Savings	3.5
	Checking	3.5
	Fees	3.0
	Mobile App	4.0
	Customer Service	4.5

5-point scale (the higher, the better)

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Pros and Cons

• Strong community focus
• Good range of accounts
• Mobile banking

• Small network
• In-person account opening

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Bottom Line

Traditional community bank with decent mobile tools

Done with big banks? You're not alone. More people are seeking genuine connections in an increasingly digital world.

Because of this, smaller banks like First Community Bank are gaining attention for their personalized approach.

In this article, see if this local bank could be the banking relationship you're looking for, and learn about its other benefits and drawbacks.

What is First Community Bank?

First Community Bank (FCB) is a bank that boasts deep roots in South Texas, launching its inaugural branch in Alice in 1983 before settling its headquarters in Corpus Christi.

Today, the bank operates eleven branches across the region, providing a suite of financial services. These include personal deposit accounts, consumer loans, and small business solutions.

Interestingly, all FCB employees are also its shareholders. This means they can be personally invested in both the bank's success and the community's well-being. Clients are likely to benefit from this setup through a more engaged and customer-focused banking experience than others.

High-Yield Savings Account - 4.00% APY

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Who is FCB Best For?

First Community Bank is great for South Texas residents craving personalized service with a good variety of product offerings.

This bank excels particularly in family-focused banking given its thoughtfully designed starter accounts, guiding young customers from their first savings to teenage financial independence.

Furthermore, if you seek a banking partner that values both individual prosperity and community growth, FCB delivers a compelling alternative to larger banks.

Pros & Cons

Here are the positives and negatives of banking with First Community Bank:

Pros

• Strong community focus
  
• Good range of deposit accounts
  
• Mobile banking convenience
  
• Easy account switch process
  
• Value-added spending tracker bonus
  
• Curated travel package deals
  
• Interactive ATMs

Cons

• Small ATM and branch network
  
• Requires in-person account opening
  
• No early payday feature
  
• No credit card offering
  
• Website lacks comprehensive details

First Community Bank Checking

FCB offers distinct checking accounts, each featuring a complimentary Visa debit card:

1. Community Checking
   Start banking with just $50 for this free checking account. This includes free FCB ATM access, plus sufficient online and mobile banking capabilities.

2. Community Gold
   Designed for customers aged 55 and above, this checking is a notch higher than Community Checking, given its free first order of checks and cashier's checks as perks.

3. Teens Club Checking
   This starter checking account for teens age 13 to 17, combines financial independence with parental oversight.

All checking accounts include up to $15 in ATM fee reimbursements for non-FCB ATMs. This covers FCB's out-of-network fees only, not those charged by other ATM operators or third parties.

High-Yield Savings Account - 4.00% APY

• $1 minimum deposit
• No fees
• 24/7 online access to funds
• FDIC insured

Click Here to Get Deal

In January 2023, Investar Holding Corp., which is the parent company of Investar® Bank, completed the sale of its two South Texas branches to First Community Bank, allowing Investar to focus on its core market in Louisiana.

First Community Bank Savings

FCB's savings accounts generally require minimal balances to earn interest. Here's a closer look at your options:

1. Community Savings
   Keep at least $50 to grow your money in this account. If your daily balance is lower than that, a $3.95 Balance Maintenance Fee will be applied per statement cycle.

2. Teens Club Savings (ages 13 to 17)
   Like Community Savings, you must maintain a $50 balance or more to earn the posted APY.

3. Kids Club Savings (ages 12 and under)
   With just $5 to earn some interest, FCB will match your first deposit with up to $5 as a bonus, making this a nice banking introduction for your child.
   For FCB interest-earning accounts, accumulated gains are forfeited if the account is closed before the end of the statement cycle.

4. High-Yield Savings Account
   Looking for premium returns? Through FCB's partnership with Raisin's savings marketplace, you can access higher yields with a minimum of $1 to open your custodial account.

High-Yield Savings Account - 4.00% APY

• $1 minimum deposit
• No fees
• 24/7 online access to funds
• FDIC insured

Click Here to Get Deal

You can use this savings calculator to see just how much your funds can grow with a High-Yield Savings Account:

FCB Account Opening
To open an account with First Community Bank, visit any of its branch locations in South Texas. Expect a friendly staff member to assist you.

Other FCB Products and Services

While FCB isn't a big bank, its product coverage extends beyond checking and savings by offering the following:

• Money Market Plus
  Maximize your returns with a tiered rate when maintaining at least a $2,500 balance in this money market account.

• Certificate of Deposits (CDs)
  Choose from flexible terms (90 days to 4 years) to fit your financial goals, starting at $1,000.

• Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)
  Plan for your future with 12, 18, or 24-month maturity options.

• Business services
  FCB empowers local businesses with a selection of checking and savings accounts, business financing and SBA loans, merchant services with credit card processing, and streamlined accounting through Autobooks.

• Loan services
  Access financing solutions with FCB's personal loans and home mortgage loans.

• Savings Sam
  Take control of your finances by connecting accounts from nearly 17,000 financial institutions for a complete picture.

• Travel Club
  Score curated travel packages at value pricing without any add-on fees.

Fees to look out for

First Community Bank offers several accounts without mandatory fees, but its complete fee schedule isn't readily available online. Here are some published fees:^[1]

Balance maintenance fee	$15.95 (Money Market Plus); $3.95 (Community Savings)
Excess withdrawal fee	$7.50 (Money Market Plus), applies on the 7th withdrawal onwards per statement cycle
Domestic wire transfer fee	$5 (Community Gold)
Non-sufficient funds fee	$30

Depositing and Withdrawing Funds

Visit any First Community Bank location during business hours for assistance with deposits and withdrawals. Other ways include:

• ATM/ITM
  Standard ATM services are available 24/7. It also has Interactive teller machines (ITMs) that feature a live video chat with FCB tellers in English or Spanish during bank hours.
  FCB Visa debit cards have a stand-in limit of $505 for ATM withdrawals and $500 for purchases based on your end-of-day balance from the previous night. Transactions may decline if this balance falls below these thresholds.

• Online transfer
  Move funds between accounts via online or mobile banking in real time. However, peer-to-peer payments like Venmo, Zelle®, PayPal, etc. received after 2 pm may be credited on the next business day.

• Mobile check deposit
  Deposit checks on-the-go 24/7 via Mobile 1st app.

• Direct deposit
  Set up your paycheck, Social Security benefits, or other recurring deposits by providing FCB's routing number and your account number to the payer.

Is First Community Bank legit?

First Community Bank is a legitimate bank, with deposits that are FDIC-insured up to $250,000 per customer, per account category. It's also subject to regulatory oversight by the Texas Department of Banking.

First Community Bank vs. other banks

Knowing FCB's features and client experiences, see how FCB stacks up against bigger banks to further understand if it's the best option for you.

FCB vs. Capital One
Given Capital One's much larger ATM and branch network, FCB dwarfs in comparison with its localized focus.

At the same time, Capital One boasts modern banking facilities with its cafes, where clients can even get a 50% discount on handcrafted beverages while enjoying a comfortable space.

Although Capital One represents a large-scale banking institution, FCB distinguishes itself by its personalized approach. Its simpler infrastructure enables a customer-centric service that often gets overlooked by major national banks.

FCB vs. CIT Bank®
These banks represent two distinct banking models since CIT Bank® is the online division of First Citizens Bank. As such, CIT Bank® doesn't have physical locations, unlike FCB, which provides traditional branch services with personal interaction.

Being fully digital, all CIT deposit accounts are free of monthly fees while earning more competitive APYs for its savings products. But without the in-person support that FCB offers, it may leave customers feeling frustrated during complex financial situations.

Member FDIC

CIT Bank Platinum Savings - $300 Bonus

Click Here to Get Deal

• Transfer a one-time deposit of $50,000+ for a Bonus of $300
• 4.10% APY with a balance of $5,000 or more
• 0.25% APY with a balance of less than $5,000
• No monthly maintenance fee
• Member FDIC

Terms and Conditions

• There are is no period of time where the customer will be required to maintain the funds.
  
• Account must be open when bonus is credited
  
• Promotion is available per account and Primary customer
  
• Bonus will be credited into the Platinum Savings Account that fulfills the funding requirement
  
• Funding can be deposited in one-deposit or incrementally
  
• Promotion Period will be 3 months or until CIT's goals are met, whichever comes first

FCB vs. Chase
As the largest U.S. bank by assets, Chase dominates with its comprehensive financial suite, sophisticated digital platform, and round-the-clock customer support across its nationwide network.

On the other hand, FCB differentiates itself by providing bankers who intimately understand the South Texas market. This helps maintain closer connections with customers.

Member FDIC

Chase Total Checking® - $300 Bonus

Click Here to Open an Account

Expires 7/16/2025

• New Chase checking customers enjoy a $300 bonus when you open a Chase Total Checking^® account with qualifying activities
• Chase Mobile^® app - Manage accounts, pay bills, send money to friends with Zelle® and deposit checks from almost anywhere.
• Chase Overdraft Assist℠ - no overdraft fees if you're overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the business day or if you're overdrawn by more than $50 and bring your account balance to overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the next business day*
• Help keep your money protected with features like Zero Liability Protection, fraud monitoring and card lock.
• Chase Total Checking includes FDIC insurance up to the maximum amount allowed by law.
• With over 4,700 branches, Chase has the largest branch network in the U.S. plus access to more than 15,000 ATMs.
• Open your account online now
• Available online nationwide except in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. For branch locations, visit locator.chase.com.

Bottom Line

First Community Bank has established itself as a trusted financial partner for the local residents and small business owners in South Texas. The community-focused approach and personalized service are its standout features.

While FCB may not match the extensive digital innovations of much larger banks, it's still able to deliver banking conveniences alongside thoughtfully designed financial products.

Nonetheless, with its limited branch and ATM network, this could be an impractical choice for frequent travelers or those planning to relocate outside the region soon. In this case, you can check out the best national banks instead.

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