Mortgage Loans Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Find the answers to your 1^st National Bank Mortgage Loan questions.

Find the answer to frequently asked questions about 1^st National Bank Mortgage Loans and Servicing. You will find answers to questions like:

• My payment information on my statement/bill is incorrect. What do I do?
• Can I make a principal, escrow, or late charges ‘ONLY’ payment to my loan?
• How do I request a Payoff from 1^st National Bank?
• Can I switch to a Monthly eStatement?
• How do I update my contact information?
• How do I dispute inaccurate information on my loan account?
• How do I request information on my loan account?
• What is an Escrow Analysis?
• What does it mean to have a Surplus or Shortage?
• What is a Cushion?
• Escrow made simple and easy.
• What do I do if I switch Homeowner’s Insurance Companies?
• What if I acquired an ownership interest in the property, such as through death, divorce, or legal separation?
• Questions about Default Servicing.

Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Contact us at (513) 932-3221, email us at loanservicing@bankwith1st.com or submit a contact form.

Routing Number

What is 1^st National Bank’s routing number?

1^st National Bank’s routing number is 042208006.

Loan Servicing Questions

My payment information on my statement/bill is incorrect. What do I do?

If you believe your payment information is incorrect please contact us at (513) 932-3221. For more information about your billing rights, view your billing rights.

Can I pay only the principal, escrow, or late fees on my loan?

Yes, you can!

Where and How to Pay:

• Visit a local 1^st National Bank banking center
• Mail your payments to:

Make sure to include a note specifying how you want the payment applied.

For Electronic Payments:

• If you wish to pay only the principal, escrow, or late fees through electronic methods like Online Banking, Mobile App, or another bank, please contact our Servicing Department at (513) 932-3221 or payments@bankwith1st.com. This ensures we apply your payment correctly.
  • Otherwise, electronic payments will be treated as regular payments
• If you have a 1^st National Bank Checking or Savings account, you can make Principal-Only payments through Online Banking. We recommend regularly checking your loan on Online Banking to make sure payments are being applied as you want.

Additional Information:

• Consider signing up for Online Banking if you haven’t.
• If you don’t already get a monthly billing eStatement, you can opt in to receive one.

How do I request a Payoff from 1^st National Bank?

To receive the official payoff quote from 1^st National Bank, a request may be emailed to payoffs@bankwith1st.com, preferred, or faxed to (513) 932-7119.

The following information must be contained in the request:

• Borrower Name(s)
• Borrower Account Number(s)
• Property address being sold/paid off
• Borrower’s Signed Authorization with wet signature
• Payoff quote good through Date
• To whom and where the payoff quote needs to be returned
• Indicate whether it is a Sale or Refinance

Can I switch to a Monthly eStatement?

Yes! If you are currently receiving a paper statement and would like to receive eStatements, you can download our eStatement form here, email payments@bankwith1st.com, or call (513) 932-3221 and request to receive eStatements.

You can also view your statements by logging into your Online Banking, selecting the account you wish to view, and clicking documents. month.

When and how do I update my contact information?

IF YOU MOVE

Either during or after your loan with 1^st National Bank is paid-off, WE NEED TO KNOW your current mailing address so we can deliver your mail. Especially, if you sell your property and move because we need to send your paid-off loan letter, paid-off loan escrow analysis (if applicable), and your tax reporting information for the payoff calendar year.

IF YOU GET A NEW PHONE NUMBER OR EMAIL

1^st National Bank needs a current phone number and/or email address to get in touch with you. Please, let us know as soon as possible by calling your banking center or call (513) 932-3221.

How do I dispute inaccurate information on my loan account?

You need to send a letter and supporting documentation to the following address:

1^st National Bank

ATTN: Loan Servicing

1000 E. Main St.

Lebanon, OH 45036

You may also call (513) 932-3221 to speak to a customer service representative or email loanservicing@bankwith1st.com.

How do I request information on my loan account?

You need to send a letter to the following address:

You may also call (513) 932-3221 to speak to a customer service representative or email loanservicing@bankwith1st.com.

Escrow Questions

What is an Escrow Analysis?

Annually, we review your escrow account to make sure there are enough funds to cover paying your taxes and/or insurance premiums during the escrow analysis computation year. We send you a summary statement of this report called an escrow analysis. It includes a review of activity in your escrow account during the past 12 months, with projections for the next 12 months. This helps us determine the amount you need to pay into your escrow account each month, so we can pay your taxes and/or insurance obligations on your behalf for the next 12 months.

What does it mean to have a Surplus or Shortage?

Increases or decreases in your real estate taxes or insurance premiums may cause a surplus or shortage in your escrow account. If disbursements from your escrow account were lower than expected, your account may have a surplus. If disbursements from your escrow account were higher than expected, your account may have a shortage.

What is a Cushion?

A cushion is a reserve, held in your escrow account, used to help cover increases in real estate taxes or insurance programs.

Escrow made simple and easy

Escrow means one monthly payment

When you borrow money to purchase a home, you’ll have several bills:

• Mortgage payment
• Property taxes
• Homeowners insurance
• Private Mortgage Insurance (in some instances)

1^st National Bank takes on the responsibility of collecting your escrow payment monthly. This will be included in your full monthly mortgage payment. To determine your monthly amount for escrow, we take each escrow item, such as current tax and insurance amounts, and divide those by 12.

Example of your Escrow Billing

You just purchased your new home. Let’s say your bills look like this:

• Mortgage: $1,000 each month/ $12,000 a year
• Property taxes: $1,200 every six months/ $2,400 a year
• Homeowners insurance: $900 every six months/ $1,800 a year
• Private Mortgage Insurance: $1,800 a year

Together, these add up to $18,000 for the year. With an escrow account, you’ll pay a monthly bill of $1,500 to the bank. Then, the bank will pay each of these bills for you as they come due.

An escrow account can be optional, based on Bank policy. But many new homeowners choose to escrow even if they don’t have to. They like knowing they won’t have to save for tax and insurance bills.

What do I do if I switch Homeowner’s Insurance Companies?

• Whether or not you have an escrow account with us, let us know as soon as possible.
• Make sure your new insurance policy has your 1^st National Bank account number and 1^st National Bank’s Mortgagee Clause below:

• Email your new policy declarations page to loanservicing@bankwith1st.com
• If you receive an insurance premium refund from your insurance company and you have an escrow account, please reach out to our Loan Servicing Department at loanservicing@bankwith1st.com or (513) 932-3221 to discuss if the funds need to be deposited into your escrow account.

Default Servicing Questions

Will it cost me money to get help?

• There should never be a fee to obtain assistance or information about foreclosure prevention options from 1^st National Bank or a qualified housing finance agency.
• Never send a mortgage payment to a company except for the company listed on your monthly mortgage statement
• Beware of scams and/or anyone offering to help you for a fee

What is foreclosure?

Foreclosure is the loss of your home through a legal process where 1^st National Bank or a third party acquires the property at a foreclosure sale.

What are the consequences of foreclosure?

• You must move or you will be evicted
• It may be as long as seven years before you are eligible for another mortgage loan
• You and any additional borrower(s) listed on the mortgage may experience negative credit implications

Will the foreclosure process begin if I do not respond to notices regarding missed payments?

If you ignore or disregard 1^st National Bank’s notices, 1^st National Bank may refer your mortgage to foreclosure as authorized by your mortgage documents and applicable law.

Should I still contact 1^st National Bank if I have waited too long and my property has been referred to foreclosure?

• Yes, don’t wait any longer. If you wish to keep your home, contact 1^st National Bank now.
• You may also contact a United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-approved housing counselor and request a call including you, a HUD-approved counselor, and 1^st National Bank to discuss your hardship.
• A HUD-approved housing counselor can also provide free advice on debt management.

Can I still be evaluated for mortgage assistance if my property is scheduled for a foreclosure sale?

• Yes, but it is imperative that you reach out to 1^st National Bank to discuss your options.

Will my property be sold at a foreclosure sale if I accept a foreclosure alternative?

No. Your property will not be sold if you accept a foreclosure avoidance option and comply with requirements of avoidance.

What if I acquired an ownership interest in the property, such as through death, divorce, or legal separation?

Contact 1^st National Bank as soon as possible. 1^st National Bank is here to help you navigate these events. Please contact us to receive a list of documentation needed to confirm your identity and ownership interest in the property, where to send mortgage payments, and to discuss your next steps.