First National Bank Texas Business Checking Review 2023
This article is part of a larger series on Business Banking.
First National Bank Texas (FNBT) is a good choice if you’re looking for a long-established community bank that provides stability. It offers a basic business checking account for small businesses, three commercial checking accounts for larger businesses, including an interest-bearing analyzed account, and a free checking account for nonprofit organizations.
It also provides commercial money market accounts, Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, commercial loans, business insurance, and small business and commercial digital banking.
How FNBT operates: It has been serving customers since 1901. It is Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC)-insured and has branch locations in Texas, Arizona, Arkansas, and New Mexico. All of its business checking accounts require in-person account opening. First Convenience Bank (FCB) and First Heroes National Bank (FHNB) are affiliates of FNBT.
Pros
- No account opening deposit and required minimum balance
- Waivable monthly fee for Business First Checking
- No monthly fees and transaction limit for nonprofits
- Highly rated mobile banking app
Cons
- Branches limited to Texas, Arizona, Arkansas, and New Mexico
- Low free transaction limit
- Low annual percentage yield (APY) for interest-earning commercial accounts
- No online account opening option for business checking accounts
Features
- Free business debit card
- Digital banking for small and commercial businesses
- Multiple business checking account options, including interest-earning products
- Business credit cards, commercial money market accounts, SBA loans, commercial loans, and business insurance
How First National Bank Texas Stacks Up With Its Competitors
Monthly Fee | Monthly Transaction Limit Before Fees | Monthly Cash Deposit Fee | ATM Fee | Minimum Opening Deposit | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Business First Checking | $15; waivable | 50 items per statement cycle | Up to $5,000 free | None | |
 Business Complete Banking | $15; waivable | 20 paper transactions, then 40 cents per item | $5,000 free, then $2.50 per $1,000 | None | |
 Business Advantage Fundamentals Banking | $16; waivable | 200 items, then 45 cents per item | $7,500 free, then 30 cents per $100 | $100 | |
When First National Bank Texas Is a Good Fit
- You have low monthly transactions: FNBT’s Business First Checking account is ideal for small business owners and startup entrepreneurs with its 50-item free monthly transaction limit and up to $5,000 free cash deposits.
- You have high monthly transactions: For businesses with more significant balances and higher monthly transactions, the Analyzed Commercial Checking account lets you save on transaction costs, which can be offset through an earnings credit. The bank may place the other commercial accounts (FNBT’s Commercial Checking and Commercial Checking with Interest) on analysis, at its discretion.
- You’re a nonprofit seeking a free checking account: FNBT’s nonprofit checking account doesn’t charge for checks/debits paid and items deposited, including monthly maintenance fees, to help organizations save more.
- You want access to more business banking products: FNBT provides money market accounts, business credit cards, SBA and commercial loans, and business insurance.
When First National Bank Texas Is Not a Good Fit
- Your business is outside the bank’s service areas: FNBT’s branches are confined to four states: Texas, Arizona, Arkansas, and New Mexico. If your business isn’t based in those areas, you can opt for Chase, which has nationwide branch access. Our Chase Business Checking review provides details of the bank’s checking accounts to help you decide.
- You want to earn a higher APY: Although FNBT’s Commercial Checking with Interest and Analyzed Commercial Checking let you earn interest, the APY rates are lower than what competitors offer. Consider Bluevine, which provides as much as 2.0% APY for qualifying balances up to $250,000. Check out our review of Bluevine Business Checking to see how it can benefit your business.
- You rely on wire transfers: FNBT charges $10 for receiving domestic wires and $25 for sending domestic wires. However, you can only receive and send international wires at selected branches. An excellent alternative is Mercury, which provides fee-free inbound and outbound domestic and international wire transfers. Read our Mercury Business Checking review to learn more about its cost-saving features.
See more alternatives in our roundup of the best small business checking accounts.
First National Bank Business Checking Overview
First National Bank Texas Business Checking Requirements
To open a business checking account, you must visit a branch. All of the bank’s business checking products require in-person account opening. Its website provides a list of its branches in every state.
See our guide on how to open a business bank account before opening an account. It includes a free downloadable checklist of required documents.
First National Bank Texas Business Checking Features
FNBT features various business checking accounts, small business and commercial digital banking, and a free business debit card.
Business Checking Account Options
FNBT offers one business checking account for small businesses, three commercial checking for larger businesses, and one for nonprofits:
- Business First Checking: Ideal for startup entrepreneurs and small business owners, this account offers the first 50 items deposited for free each statement cycle. Its $15 monthly maintenance fee can be waived by meeting the minimum daily balance of $250 or fulfilling 10 card purchases monthly. Account holders can deposit up to $5,000 in cash each statement cycle.
- Commercial Checking: Designed for growing businesses with higher transactions, Commercial Checking lets you offset costs with an earnings credit, at the bank’s discretion. Its monthly maintenance fee is $15.
- Commercial Checking with interest: Suitable for larger and established businesses looking to earn more, this account provides an APY of 0.02% as long as you keep a 1-cent daily balance. Under this checking account, the first 20 checks/debits paid and the first 50 items deposited are free each statement cycle.
- Analyzed Commercial Checking: Created for larger businesses with higher balances and greater cash management needs, this account provides monthly analyzed statements and an APY of 0.15% if you maintain a 1-cent daily balance. An earnings credit can also offset fees if you meet certain balances. You need to contact customer support or visit an FNBT local branch to learn about your account activity charges.
- NonProfit Organization Checking/Unincorporated Association/Club Checking: Aimed at charitable, religious, educational, or other tax-exempt organizations, associations, and qualified clubs, this account does not charge monthly maintenance fees or fees for checks/debits paid and items deposited.
Business Debit Card
FNBT provides a free Business Debit Mastercard® you can use at more than 20 million worldwide locations. Through this card, you can receive automatic rebates on purchases made at participating retailers, but you need to enroll for the Mastercard Easy Savings program on the bank’s website.
Digital Banking
FNBT offers small business digital banking and commercial digital banking.
Under small business digital banking, you can:
- Transfer funds between FNBT/FCB accounts
- Pay bills
- View and manage debit cards with card controls
- Manage and edit alerts
- Apply for a loan
- View e-statements and notices
- Send a service request
With commercial digital banking, you can access advanced digital banking services aside from conducting balance inquiries and fund transfers, such as:
- Perform stop payment orders/check reorders/change of address
- Access various reports, including Bank Administration Institute (BAI)
- Email or send secure messages
- Use Bill Pay services
- Make loan payments
- Perform ACH origination, business express deposit, and wire transfers (these are all subject to an additional agreement)
- Assign an administrator who can add subusers
Clients can download FNBT’s mobile banking app to deposit checks through their mobile devices. On the App Store1, FNBT’s app received a 4.7 out of 5 rating from more than 73,000 reviews, while it has an excellent 5 out of 5 rating on Google Play2 from around 31,700 reviews. Users stated that FNBT’s app is reliable, easy to use, and devoid of issues compared to other banks. However, a few experienced difficulties logging in.
Customer Service
FNBT has two customer service contact numbers, (254) 554-6699 and (800) 677-9801. It also has live chat customer support on its website. Customers can contact FNBT’s customer service team via live chat from Mondays to Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., CT and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., CT. You can also visit any of its brick-and-mortar branches in Texas, Arizona, Arkansas, and New Mexico.
Other First National Bank Texas Business Products
FNBT has money market accounts, business credit cards, SBA loans, commercial loans, and business insurance.
This interest-bearing account pays higher rates when you maintain higher balances. It has no required opening deposit, and the first 20 items deposited are free per statement cycle.
FNBT’s Commercial Money Market account has tiered APY rates:
- 1 cent to $2,499.99 earns 0.02%
- $2,500 to $24,999.99 earns 0.25%
- $25,000 to 49,999.99 earns 0.50%
- $50,000 to $99,999.99 earns 0.75%
- $100,000 to $249,999.99 earns 1.26%
- $250,000 earns 1.51%
The interest is compounded daily and credited monthly. The APY rates are subject to change at any time.
FNBT offers business credit cards with secure EMV smart chip technology. It also issues free additional employee cards:
- Business Cash Preferred Card lets you earn cash back on eligible purchases.
- Business Real Rewards Card allows you to earn unlimited points with no cap and redeem rewards.
- Smart Business Rewards Card automatically gives you 2x points per dollar spent every month in your top two spend categories.
- Business Card offers interest savings from an extended low introductory rate.
FNBT provides SBA loans to help clients acquire inventory, access working capital, or refinance their business debt.
The main requirements to be eligible for an SBA loan are:
- Be a for-profit business
- Be based in the United States
- Meet SBA size standards
- Have invested equity
- Do not qualify for conventional financing
Check out our guide on SBA loan types, rates, and requirements for more information.
For commercial lending services, FNBT provides business customers with:
- Interim construction loans for commercial or custom homes, single and multifamily complexes, medical offices, churches, and retail centers
- Real estate loans
- Equipment or commercial vehicles loans
- Business working capital loans
- Real estate debt refinancing
- Professional loans
FNBT offers business insurance for specific needs through First Community Insurance Services. The rates are competitive, and the coverage is broad and comes with various options.
Read our guide to small business insurance to learn about its coverage, costs, and industries.
First National Bank Texas Business Checking Reviews From Users
FNBT has a 2.5 out of 5-star rating on WalletHub3 from around 100 reviews. There are no First National Bank Texas Business Checking reviews, and comments about the bank itself are few and revolve around its personal loan products and customer service.
The clients mentioned that FNBT’s staff are helpful, friendly, and go the extra mile. However, some complained about being charged overdraft fees and put on hold when they called customer service. Another also stated that coin deposits were not accepted in multiple branches.
Bottom Line
FNBT’s low-tier account, Business First Checking, is a decent choice if you rely on making cash deposits in person and your business is based within its service area. Meanwhile, its nonprofit checking product is recommended for nonprofits seeking a free checking account.
Overall, the bank has solid digital banking services designed for small and commercial businesses. However, if your business needs can be satisfied through online banking, you can opt for alternatives that provide a free checking account with unlimited transactions for all business entities.
User review resources:
1App Store
2Google Play
3WalletHub
