First Guaranty Bank is a multi-state regional bank offering checking, savings, mortgages, business loans, and credit cards across Louisiana, Kentucky, Texas, and West Virginia.
Data compiled from public sources · Rating from CreditDoc methodology
First Guaranty Bank operates as a regional banking institution with a presence across four states: Louisiana, Kentucky, Texas, and West Virginia. The bank is publicly traded on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol FGBI through its parent company, First Guaranty Bancshares. According to their website, they position themselves as "The Relationship Bank," emphasizing community connection and personalized service.
First Guaranty Bank offers a comprehensive suite of consumer and business banking products. 53% APY on their ELITE savings account), mortgages for home purchase and refinance, personal credit cards with rewards programs, and online banking access. For businesses, they provide business checking accounts, business loans, business credit cards, and digital services like Autobooks for invoicing and cash flow management.
Additional services include a loan payment portal, ATM networks, mobile banking, and personal finance management tools. The bank distinguishes itself through community-focused initiatives and financial education programs. They offer "FGB Financial Foundations," a series of six financial wellness seminars covering personal finance topics and identity theft protection, which they make available to community organizations.
The bank emphasizes fraud prevention awareness and maintains dedicated fraud alerts and an identity theft center on their website. They also offer tools like ClickSWITCH to help customers transition banking relationships and Personal Finance Manager (PFM) for expense tracking. As a traditional regional bank, First Guaranty Bank is subject to standard banking regulations and FDIC insurance protections.
However, the website content does not provide specific information about interest rates, fees, loan terms, minimum deposits, or credit requirements. Their digital accessibility appears limited in some areas, as evidenced by Cloudflare security blocks on certain pages. For consumers and businesses seeking full-service banking with local branch presence in their service areas, the bank may be viable, though prospective customers should verify current rates and terms directly.
First Guaranty Bank processed 506 mortgage applications in 2023, approving 91.3% of applicants across 10 states.
506
Applications
91.3%
Approval Rate
$242K
Avg Loan
10
States Served
Based on 506 applications. Income in thousands (reported by applicant).
Source: CFPB Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) Data, 2023. Applications include originated, approved, and denied loans.
First Guaranty Bank offers 16 services including Personal checking accounts, Personal savings accounts (ELITE accounts with up to 2.53% APY), Business checking accounts, Mortgages (home purchase and refinance), Personal credit cards with rewards programs, and 11 more.
First Guaranty Bank is best suited for Consumers and small business owners in Louisiana, Kentucky, Texas, or West Virginia seeking relationship-based banking with local branch access, Individuals seeking competitive savings rates and community-focused financial education programs, Small business owners needing integrated digital invoicing and cash flow management tools, Customers prioritizing fraud prevention awareness and identity theft protection resources.
Key strengths: Multi-state regional presence with physical branches and ATM networks across LA, KY, TX, and WV; ELITE savings account offering competitive APY up to 2.53% for basic savings needs; Free financial education through FGB Financial Foundations seminars covering personal finance and identity theft protection. Areas to consider: Website contains security blocks (Cloudflare) that prevent access to certain pages, limiting transparency on specific loan terms and rates; No published information on checking account fees, minimum balance requirements, or specific mortgage rates available on homepage.
In the Banks category, comparable providers include Abbeville Building & Loan (a State-Chartered Savings Bank), American Bank, American Bank & Trust Company. Each company has different strengths — compare services, pricing, and consumer complaint records to find the best fit.
CreditDoc Diagnosis
First Guaranty Bank is best for consumers and small business owners with physical presence in Louisiana, Kentucky, Texas, or West Virginia who value local relationship banking and community involvement. The main caveat is that the bank's website lacks transparent disclosure of current rates, fees, and specific loan terms, requiring customers to contact branches or call directly for detailed product information and pricing.
State-chartered mutual savings bank in Louisiana specializing in residential mortgages and deposit products since 1890. FDIC-insured with online banking.
Best for: Louisiana residents seeking both residential mortgage and deposit products from a community-focused bank, First-time homebuyers in Vermilion Parish with limited down payment savings
Community-focused bank in Louisiana offering personal and commercial banking services, with recognition as the #1 SBA lender in the state by loan count and volume.
Best for: Small business owners in Louisiana seeking SBA loans and specialized commercial financing, Louisiana residents wanting personal relationships with local bankers and community-focused service
Community bank operating in Louisiana since 1958, offering checking, savings, loans, and credit/debit cards with a focus on personal service.
Best for: Small business owners in south-central Louisiana seeking community bank relationships, Individuals in Louisiana branch areas prioritizing in-person service and local decision-making
Answer 3 quick questions to see if this provider matches your needs.
1. What's your primary financial goal?
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