Sign up & start saving!
Get our weekly newsletter for the latest in money news, credit card offers + more ways to save
Finder makes money from featured partners, but editorial opinions are our own. Advertiser Disclosure
First National Bank Lifestyle Checking account review
Get a free safe deposit box, but there’s a $10 monthly fee if your balance drops below $1,000.
First National Bank Lifestyle Checking is an interest-bearing account that includes unlimited check-writing and a free safety deposit box. But you’ll only earn a low 0.01% APY when you have $2,500 in your account, and there’s a $10 monthly fee if your balance drops below $1,000.
No reviews yet.
Write a review
$10 per month
Fee
0.01%
APY
Details
| APY | 0.01% on balances of $2,500+ |
|---|---|
| Fee | $10 per month |
| To waive the fee | Monthly fee if your balance drops below $1,000. |
| ATMs | 800+ ATMs across Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia |
| Out-of-network ATM fee | $2.95 |
| Overdraft fee | $0 |
Review by
Michael Benninger
michael.benninger@finder.comMichael Benninger is a staff banking writer at Finder. He is a former credit analyst and longtime freelancer whose articles have been published by Intuit, Business Insider and the Los Angeles Times. Michael is passionate about all facets of personal finance and has written hundreds of articles about money management during the past decade.
Expert review
First National Bank Lifestyle Checking is best for those who like to receive paper statements. You have the option to get your statements for free, plus get access to a safety deposit box and a free order of checks when you open your account. Other than these benefits, the account lacks other features.You’ll need to keep a balance of at least $1,000 to avoid its $10 monthly fee, and while it earns interest — it’s lower than the national average for interest-bearing checking accounts. You’ll need $2,500 in your account to earn interest, but you’ll only earn 0.01% APY. That’s less than $1 per month. The branch also has a small ATM network of just over 800 machines.
Our take? Consider a checking account with a larger ATM network, no monthly fee and if you’re after interest, a high-yield rate. For instance, Ally Bank Interest Checking account earns up to 0.25% APY, has no monthly fees, is part of a large 55,000 ATM network, comes with free checks and 24/7 customer support.
How do I open a First National Bank Lifestyle Checking account?
Follow these steps to open a First National Bank Lifestyle Checking account.
- Select Apply now.
- Select Personal, then Checking & Savings.
- Select Browse all checking accounts, then click or tap Lifestyle Checking.
- Select Add to cart, Proceed to checkout, Apply now, then Checkout.
- Add your basic information, including your full name, email address, ZIP code and phone number.
- Select Apply online, then complete the Funding and Verification portions of the application.
Eligibility
Meet these eligibility requirements to qualify for a First National Bank Lifestyle Checking account.
- At least 18 years of age or younger with an adult co-applicant.
- US citizen, permanent resident or non-immigrant visa holder.
- Resident of Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee or Washington, DC.
Required information
Provide the following information when opening a Lifestyle account with First National Bank.
- Full name
- Physical address
- Contact information
- Driver’s license, passport, military ID, state-issued ID or permanent resident card and visa
- Social Security number
- Mother’s maiden name
- Employment status
3 benefits of a First National Bank Lifestyle Checking account
Like First National Bank‘s other checking accounts, the Lifestyle account comes with online bill pay and CardGuard, a set of controls that let you restrict when and where your card can be used. It also has these features.
- Free safe deposit box. Get a free 3″ x 5″ safe deposit box at a First National Bank branch near you.
- Free paper statements. Receive paper and electronic statements at no cost.
- Free first order of checks. Your initial order of checks is free when you open this account.
4 things to look out for
First National Bank Lifestyle Checking accounts have a handful of drawbacks you should keep in mind.- $10 monthly fee. If your average daily balance drops below $1,000, or the balance of your linked First National Bank accounts fall below $10,000, you’ll pay a $10 monthly fee for this account.
- Low interest rate. You’ll need $2,500 to earn interest, but it’s a low 0.01% APY. That’s just $0.01 for every $100 in your account per year.
- Limited footprint. While eligibility is open to residents of 14 states, First National Bank only has branches and ATMs in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, Virginia and Washington, DC.
- Lack of ATMs. There are only over 800 ATMs in First National Bank‘s network. Compare that to most other banks that have over 50,000 ATMs.
First National Bank‘s ATM network and fees
First National Bank has over 800 ATMs across Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, Virginia and the District of Columbia. While in-network ATMs are free to use, you’ll pay a $2.95 fee when you use an out-of-network ATM.Compare First National Bank Lifestyle Checking Account with other checking accounts
Use this table to compare other checking accounts based on their fees and ATM networks.
How do I deposit or withdraw my money?
You can move money into and out of your Lifestyle account in the following ways.
Deposit options
- Branch deposit. Deposit cash or checks at any of First National Bank‘s branches
- ATM deposit.Add cash or checks to your account at any of the bank’s 800+ ATMs.
- Incoming ACH transfer. Link an external bank account and receive free transfers.
- Incoming Zelle. Instantly receive money from other Zelle users.
- Incoming digital wallet transfer. Accept transfers via Apple Pay, Google Pay and other digital wallets.
Withdrawal options
- Branch withdrawal. Withdraw funds from your account at any of their branches.
- ATM withdrawal. Use your debit card to withdraw cash from ATMs.
- Outgoing ACH transfer. Send funds to a linked account at another institution.
- Zelle. Receive money in minutes from other Zelle users.
- Outgoing digital wallet transfer. Send peer-to-peer payments via Apple Pay, Google Pay and other digital wallets.
How to contact First National Bank customer service
Reach a First National Bank support specialist in the following ways.
- Visit any one of First National Bank‘s 340 branches spread across eight states.
- Call 800-555-5455 on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. or on weekends from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Send a secure message to a support specialist via the bank’s website, and you’ll receive a response within 48 hours.
