Stimulus Payment FAQs

How to access your payment, protect your money, and more  

Stimulus payment updates

Headlines about a potential third round of stimulus legislation are all over many news sites. We are keeping a close eye on all the developments and want to keep you in the know and help you quickly and easily check for a stimulus payment or any other account transaction anytime, anywhere.

These steps will help you prepare

Visit the IRS stimulus check page

Often financial institutions find out information on stimulus checks at the same time as you. Be in the know with the most up-to-date details and updates on the status of your stimulus check by visiting the IRS stimulus check page.

Set up online & mobile banking

Check on your accounts anytime, anywhere with online banking. Getting a direct deposit stimulus check? Easily view all transactions to see when your stimulus check is deposited. Getting a paper check? Use our Snap Deposit tool to deposit your check without ever having to leave home. 

Sign up for mobile alerts

Set it up and forget it. With account alerts, you never have to wonder what your money is doing. Set up account alerts to get notified by secure message, text message, email, phone call, or a notification through the mobile app. You can get instructions for setting up mobile alerts here.

Sign up for text banking

Just text us. After you set up text banking within our app or online banking, all it takes is a text message and within seconds you can know your account balance and if a direct deposit has hit your account. If you sign up for text banking now, when the new stimulus legislation passes you can check your account without logging into online banking. It's easy. Watch our how-to video.

Frequently asked questions

We don’t receive any advance information on the stimulus payments and details – we often find out the same time you do. We suggest checking the IRS stimulus page for any updates and for program eligibility information. The IRS expects to update the information on this page as news develops.

If you are enrolled in online banking, you can view direct deposits in your accounts by accessing online banking or through our automated telephone banking at 877.333.9530. You can also use the tools outlined in the above checklist to manage future stimulus checks. These tools include text banking and mobile alerts.

The federal government is determining the method of payment and other details including stimulus amounts. We do not have any input on what method of payment you receive or how much; for details visit IRS.gov/coronavirus. The IRS will update this page as new stimulus legislation passes.

Our Client First Center is happy to assist you with specific account or online banking questions during regular business hours which are Monday-Friday, 8am-8pm EST, and Saturday, from 8am-5pm EST. Please give us a call at 877.322.9530 or submit a secure message online. We are experiencing a high volume of calls, so we appreciate your patience.

If you receive a paper stimulus check you can use the First Financial Snap Deposit function on our mobile app. To manage a check distributed using direct deposit, review our checklist above these FAQs.

To use Snap Deposit:

If you don’t have the First Financial Bank mobile app - all you need to do is download it to get started.

You may also cash or deposit the check at any First Financial banking center or utilize any First Financial ATM or ITM.

Download on iOS
Download on Android

Direct deposits were disbursed by the federal government in the first week of January 2021. Paper checks have been mailed as well. If you have not received either payment, please check your payment status at IRS.gov.

3 COVID-19 scams you should know about

Now that round 2 of stimulus payments are being distributed, scammers are reacting quickly with new techniques to trick you into handing over your money.

Paperwork scams

There is no paperwork required to receive your check, and there is no way to accelerate the amount of time it takes to receive your check other than setting up direct deposit with the IRS.

Check advance scams

Fraudsters claim you’ll get your payment faster if you pay them a fee, but in reality they don’t provide you money, or will deposit fraudulent checks into your account and will ask for funds back before the check charges back. The IRS is doing everything it can to get checks out as quickly as possible.

IRS imposters

The IRS does not communicate through email, send links to websites, or text about stimulus payments or other tax matters. It is important not to click links that you are sent via text or email. 

Fact or fiction? Stimulus payment myths debunked

Don't be misled about who is eligible for a stimulus check or how it will affect your taxes.

Myth 1. The stimulus check will be taxed.
You won’t need to pay taxes on any stimulus money you receive. This is because the stimulus check is considered a refundable tax credit. These new payments will be considered tax rebates on next year’s taxes.
Myth 2. Next year’s tax refund will be lower.
A person becomes eligible for a tax refund when they withhold too much money in their W2 relative to their tax liability. The stimulus money may be independent of any money you would receive in the form of a year-end tax refund.
Myth 3. My payment will take a long time to arrive.
If the IRS has your direct deposit information from a previous year’s tax refund, the stimulus payment earlier this year, or because you receive social security benefits, you should receive your stimulus payment to that same account. If this is not the case, you may receive a paper check in the mail or another form of payment. 

Coronavirus Hardship Relief Program

We are here to help. If you are in a hardship situation, you can reach your First Financial Bank representative in one of the following ways:

  • Call your First Financial banker at your local banking center. For a list of banking centers, hours, and phone numbers, please use our banking center locator.
  • Reach out via our dedicated COVID-19 hotline at 844.897.9563. This line is open 8:00 AM -  8:00 PM EST Monday through Friday and 8:00 AM - 5 PM EST Saturday.
  • Complete the COVID-19 Hardship Form and an associate will contact you to discuss your options.

We are working tirelessly for and with our clients. If you have already received hardship assistance and believe you may need an extension of the previous relief, please contact our Loss Mitigation Department at 800.896.7453.






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Information accurate as of 02/17/2021.

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