Mobile Banking FAQ’s

What is BankFirst Mobile?

BankFirst Mobile is our mobile service that brings banking to your phone. BankFirst Mobile allows you to monitor your account from your phone at any time.

What can I do with BankFirst Mobile?

BankFirst Mobile allows you to:

  • View account balances
  • View transaction history
  • Transfer funds
  • Pay bills

My phone does not have Internet access. Can I still use BankFirst Mobile?

Yes. All you need is a phone with text messaging.

SMS Text Banking messages are not encrypted and there is no application time out. If your phone or device is lost or stolen, you should deactivate the service. Unless the service is deactivated, it may be possible for another person in possession of the phone to view any text messages stored on the device and see information such as account balances and recent history.

How do I enroll in BankFirst Mobile?

Log on to Online Banking. Select BankFirst Mobile and then SIGN UP. Make sure you have your phone handy.

Are there guidelines for creating account “nicknames”?

During enrollment, you are given the option of providing “nicknames” for your accounts. Choosing an appropriate nickname is especially important if you use the SMS text service for BankFirst Mobile, because your history inquiries use the nickname. It is also included in the account history message returned by the financial institution.

For this reason, the nickname should be as short as possible. There is a maximum of ten characters, and fewer than five is recommended if you plan to use the SMS text service.

An SMS text message can contain only 160 characters total. Using as few as possible in your account nickname helps ensure that your account information will fit into a single message.

How do I access BankFirst Mobile?

Once you enroll for BankFirst Mobile, you will receive a text message with instructions on how to get started.

What phones are supported for BankFirst Mobile?

Any phone with text messaging capabilities can take advantage of BankFirst Mobile.

Is BankFirst Mobile secure?

Yes. A personal password and phone activation code keeps your information safe.

No non-public personal data is sent to or stored on the mobile banking devices and sensitive information is not available even if someone else gains access to the device. However, you should help protect your personal information by keeping the following guidelines in mind:

1. SMS Text banking uses the phone number associated with your device for authentication. If the device is lost or stolen, you should deactivate your SMS Text banking service immediately. If the service remains active, another person in possession of the phone can use your SMS Text banking service to see account balances and transaction history.

2. Do not store text messages from SMS Text banking. They could be read by another person, and may contain information such as our contact SMS Text number and account nicknames that would allow another person to access your SMS Text banking.

3. Do not store your Internet banking password in the device browser. Storing the password would potentially allow another person to follow the bookmark and log in. Quit out of the browser after each Internet banking session to erase session information and keep an unauthorized person from using the “back” browser function to re-enter your online banking.

Can I use BankFirst Mobile on more than one phone?

Yes. You can add phones, change services or cancel at any time from the BankFirst Mobile setup screen.

Need Assistance?

If you have additional questions, contact BankFirst for assistance.

How does Mobile Deposit work?

If you have an iPhone® or Android™ smart phone simply download the application. Then, log in. You will key in the amount of the deposit, and take a picture of the front and back of the check. That’s it! Within seconds of uploading the transaction, you will receive a confirmation that the deposit was received successfully.

What do I need to do prior to making a deposit?

You must clearly mark the check “Mobile Deposit” on the front and back of the check in addition to marking the date of the deposit on the front of the check. You must also properly endorse the back of the check.

What types of checks can be processed through Mobile Deposit?

All personal and business U.S. checks can be processed through Mobile Deposit. Checks from Canada and other foreign countries, food stamps, savings bonds and poor image quality checks must be deposited traditionally.

How secure is Mobile Deposit?

Mobile Deposit is very secure. It features multiple layers of security, giving your account and check data the highest level of safety available.

When can electronic deposits be issued to the financial institution?

You can transmit mobile deposits to the financial institution 24-hours a day, 7-days a week including weekends and holidays, with the exception of the financial institution’s routine maintenance downtime.

When will deposits be posted into my account?

Deposits received electronically are processed similar to traditional paper deposits during the business day. The daily cut-off time is 6:00 PM. Deposits received after 6:00 PM will be processed on the next business day.

What should I do with the original paper checks after deposits are made?

Original checks should be stored for a minimum amount of time prior to being destroyed, as determined by your financial institution.

How do I prevent checks from being scanned and deposited twice?

The software has built-in duplicate detection tools that detect items already captured. If the software detects potential duplicate checks, an alert prompts you to make a decision about the items in question.

How do I know the image quality is acceptable?

The software has an Image Quality Assessment (IQA) tool that automatically identifies problems with the check image. If a problem is detected, you will be asked to retake the photo.

Need Assistance?

If you have additional questions, contact BankFirst for assistance.