FAQs

Online Account Creation

How do I know if I am eligible to apply for accounts online?
You must be 18 years of age or older to apply online. Residents in the states of New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island and Connecticut are eligible to apply for new online deposit accounts.

We will accept applications for accounts titled as a Sole Owner or Joint Account online. If you are interested in opening an account in the name of a Trust, Estate, Organization, Corporation, etc., please contact one of our Banking Centers.

What is a joint account?
If an account is joint, all deposits are the property of the person(s) indicated on the account and we may release all or any part of the amount in the account to honor checks, withdrawals, orders or requests from any person named on this account. Any person named on the account is liable for the amount of any overdraft regardless of whether he or she signed the item or benefited from the proceeds of the item. Upon receiving written notice from any person named on the account, we may freeze the account. The account may be frozen until we receive written notice, signed by all parties named in the account, as to the disposition of funds. We may use the funds to satisfy a debt or judgment of any person named on this account if ordered to do so by the court of law.

Why do you need my Social Security Number?
To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. As part of this process, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, Social Security Number and other information that will allow us to identify you, such as your driver’s license information.

Why do you need my driver’s license information?
To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. As part of this process, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, Social Security Number and other information that will allow us to identify you, such as your driver’s license information.

Why do you need my email address?
Email provides us with an efficient means to communicate with you regarding the status of your online account application. Please note that we will never ask you to provide your account number, Social Security Number, PIN or similar confidential personal information via email.

How do I fund my new online account?
Depending upon the type of account you open online, you can fund with a check deposit, direct deposit or electronic transfer (ACH). The available funding options will be displayed during the account-opening process are explained in more detail below.

What is an electronic transfer?
An electronic transfer is a one-time transfer of your initial deposit from an existing Hampshire First Bank account or from an account at another bank or Financial Institution. In order to setup an electronic transfer, you will need to provide us with the Institution Name, Routing Number and your Account Number. You will be also prompted to complete an Account Validation process as part of your new online account application. As part of this process, we may check with the other bank to ensure that you are a rightful owner of your external account.

How do I fund by check?
To fund your new account with a check, please make the check payable to “Hampshire First Bank” and mail your deposit to:

Hampshire First Bank
Attn: Deposit Operations
PO Box 208
Manchester, NH 03105

What is a direct deposit?
A direct deposit is a recurring, preauthorized automatic deposit of funds to your checking account(s), savings account(s), money market account(s), and NOW account(s). A direct deposit is normally arranged through your employer or a government agency for the purpose of receiving payroll, benefits, or other types of regularly scheduled credits.

What is backup withholding?
By choosing “Yes,” you are acknowledging that you have been notified by the I.R.S. that you are subject to backup withholding because of underreported interest and dividends.

For HSAs Only - High Deductible Insurance Plan Effective Date – what is this date used for?
Your eligibility to contribute to an HSA is determined by the effective date of your HDHP coverage. Your annual contribution depends on your HDHP coverage. If you are not covered on December 1, your contribution depends on the number of months of HDHP coverage you have during the year (technically, the months where you have HDHP coverage on the first day of the month). For 2007 and forward, if you are covered on December 1, you are treated as an eligible individual for the entire year. However – if you cease to be an eligible individual during 2008, the excess over the pro rated contribution is included in income and subject to a 10 percent additional tax. The amount you can contribute is not determined by the date you establish your account. However, medical expenses incurred before the date your HSA is established cannot be reimbursed from the account.

What is the percentage of distribution?
The total percentage of distribution allocated across all beneficiaries must equal 100%.

What is a Trustee Transfer?
A direct transfer of funds from your old HSA trustee/custodian to your new HSA trustee. There is no money or checks that you receive personally. This differs from a rollover as no money or check pass to you personally. The direct trustee-to-trustee transfer is the method that is recommended because you cannot trigger an unexpected tax or disqualify the transfer since you never touch the money. Trustee-to-trustee transfers are not subject to any tax withholding and are exempt from the one-per-year 60-day rollover rule. This rule states that if you rollover instead of using the direct trustee-to-trustee transfer, you must complete the rollover within 60 days by contributing the distribution from your plan to your IRA within that time frame. You are also limited to one 60-day rollover per year on that money.

What is a Rollover?
A rollover occurs when your old trustee/custodian distributes your HSA assets directly to you. You actually receive a check. Then it is up to you to transfer those assets to your new HSA trustee/custodian within 60 calendar days after you receive the distribution from your plan. If you miss the 60 day deadline you will have to report this to the IRS, as there are tax penalties. You may only rollover assets once in a 12 month period. You may wish to consult a tax professional with your questions and before taking a rollover distribution.

Secure Sign On

What is Secure Sign On?
Secure Sign On is a service to help protect you from fraudulent online activity. It provides you with visual cues when you sign on so you know that you are on our website and it safe to enter information. Secure Sign On also helps us ensure that only authorized individuals can access financial information online.

How do I setup Secure Sign On?
By completing three easy steps. First, select a picture and enter a personal phrase that you want to use as confirmation that you are on our website. Then, set up confirmation questions that help us ensure that only authorized individuals are accessing your account information. Last, decide whether to register your personal computer as an authorized location from which to access your account information.

What happens if I cancel Secure Sign On during setup?
The information you enter in the setup process is not saved until you complete the final confirmation step and click “Submit.” If you exit the process before this final step, you will lose the information you have set up and will need to start the process again.

Do I have to change any Internet browser settings for Secure Sign On to work?
To register a computer as an authorized location for accessing your account information, your Internet Browser must be set to accept permanent cookies. Most browsers accept cookies as a default setting. If you haven’t customized this setting, you probably will not need to make any changes. If you do need to change the Internet cookie setting to accept permanent cookies, follow the instructions provided in the Internet browser’s Help file to complete this task. If you do not want to make this change, you will be able to sign on using the confirmation questions for validation.

Why doesn’t my browser’s Auto Complete feature pre-fill my password?
Once you set up Secure Sign On, your password will not pre-fill. Secure Sign On uses a multi-page sign on process that does not allow your browser to anticipate your password entry. While the Auto Complete feature may be helpful for some things, it can also seriously compromise your security and privacy. If a password is saved in the browser on a public computer, that information is available to others for use or theft.

I use a service that let’s me see the information from all of my online accounts on one web site. After I set up Secure Sign On, will my account information with you still appear on this web site?
The firm operating the account aggregation service logs in as you and uses your security information to get your information for you. Once you set up Secure Sign On, these services may not work with the User ID and password you provided to the service because Secure Sign On uses a multi-page sign on process. Confirmation questions and cookies are also used as additional security information.

How is the Secure Sign On picture and personal phrase used?
The picture and personal phrase are our way of telling you that you are at our legitimate website. This protects you from a fraudulent Internet activity known as phishing. Your picture and personal phrase are always displayed when you sign on, forget your password, or need to change a temporary or expired password. If you enter your User ID and the next screen does not show your picture and personal phrase, do not enter any personal information. Instead, re-enter your User ID or contact us for assistance.

What is phishing?
Phishing is an Internet fraud technique that is used by criminals to trick you into giving them your personal information. Phishing occurs when a criminal sends you an email message with a link to what may appear to be our website – but it is actually a fake. On this fake website, you will be asked to enter personal information, such as your social security number, account number or credit card number. Phishing is a fraudulent act aimed at stealing your identity and personal account information. Phishers set up a phony website that looks like the site of a trusted company to trick you into disclosing your User ID and password.

Is my personal phrase the same as my password?
No. Your personal phrase lets you know that you are at our website and not an imposter site. It should not contain personal information like your password because it is displayed when you sign on, forget your password, or need to change a temporary or expired password and may be seen by other people when you complete these tasks.

Can other people see my picture and personal phrase?
Yes. Your picture and personal phrase are always displayed when you sign on, forget your password, or need to change a temporary or expired password and may be seen by people when you complete these tasks. Don’t worry if someone else sees your picture and phrase. It’s just our sign to you that you are at our website.

Can I change my picture and personal phrase?
To change your picture and personal phrase, you must go through the Secure Sign On Setup process again and re-establish your confirmation questions as well. If you would like to change you picture and personal phrase, please call us at (603) 623-2007.

How are the Secure Sign On confirmation questions used?
Confirmation questions are used as an additional form of identification when you sign on from a computer that has not been registered. They are also used to verify your identity if you forget your password or need to change a temporary or expired password.

Can I change my confirmation questions?
To change your confirmation questions, you must go through the Secure Sign On Setup process again and re-establish your picture and personal phrase as well. If you would like to change you picture and personal phrase, please call us at (603) 623-2007.

What happens if I forget the answer to a confirmation question?
Confirmation questions must be answered to access your account information from an unregistered computer. Answers are not case sensitive but the information and spelling must match what was entered during setup. You will have several opportunities to answer the questions correctly before access to your account information is disabled. If you are not able to access your account information, please contact us for assistance.

What happens when I register a personal computer?
We store a permanent cookie on the computer that enables us to recognize it as an authorized location to access your information online. The next time you sign on, we will recognize the location and you will not be asked to answer confirmation questions as part of the sign on process.

What is a cookie?
A cookie is a small text file that a web server can store on a user's computer. The cookie we store on your computer is only used by us when you access your account information online. It is not used to track your Internet activity and cannot be used by others to access your information.

Why would I register a personal computer?
Registering your computer is another security measure to protect your financial information. With your User ID and password, this information helps us prevent unauthorized access to your accounts. On a registered computer, you are not asked to answer confirmation questions when you sign on – making it faster to access your account information.

Can I register this personal computer later?
Yes. Each time you sign on using an unregistered personal computer, you will be given an opportunity to register it.

Why shouldn’t I register public computers?
We don't recommend registering public computers to access your financial information online. Public computers can be used by many individuals and aren’t typically as secure as a personal computer. When you use public computers, we will ask you additional questions before you sign on to protect your personal information. Examples of public computers include computers available at a library, coffee shop, or other public locations.

What happens if I register a personal computer by mistake? Can someone else use it to access my account information?
No, someone cannot access your account information online simply because the computer has been registered. In addition to the cookie we use to register a computer, your User ID and password are needed to sign on from an authorized location. If you are concerned about a cookie that has been left on a public computer, we suggest that you change your password and/or User ID. The cookie does not contain this information and is useless if these other identifiers are not presented properly. Cookies are also updated periodically as an additional security measure.

If multiple people use this computer, should each person register it?
If more than one person is commonly using this computer to access information for accounts they have with us, each person should register the computer for faster access to their information. Registered locations are saved for each customer.

If I register this computer, will I ever be asked to register it again?
You may be asked to register this computer again if the cookie is deleted or if your Internet browser doesn’t allow permanent cookies. Also, if you use more than one Internet browser on your computer, you will be asked to register this computer the first time you use a different browser. Note: If your Internet browser doesn’t allow permanent cookies, you can change your cookie settings using the instructions provided in the Internet browser’s Help file.

Does anti-spyware and firewall software affect registration of a personal computer?
We recommend that you use anti-spyware and firewall software on all of your computers. However, some anti-spyware and firewall software do not allow cookies to be stored on a computer. If your anti-spyware or firewall software does not allow cookies, you may not be able to register your personal computer. Some anti-spyware software may give you an option to remove cookies. If our cookie is removed, your personal computer will no longer be registered and you will be asked to answer confirmation questions the next time you sign on.