Comparison

First Bank Digital Banking vs SECU

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

First Bank Digital Banking

Manage your finances on the go with this secure mobile banking application. View account balances, transfer funds, deposit checks, and track spending patterns. Access your accounts anytime, anywhere, and utilize biometric security for peace of mind.

Highlights
  • View real-time account balances
  • Transfer funds between accounts
  • Deposit checks via mobile
  • Track financial patterns
  • Add cards to mobile wallet
  • Biometric account security
Features
Read full description

First Bank Digital Banking Bank on the go The First Bank mobile banking app is your trusted place to bank anywhere, anytime securely from your Apple device. With the First Bank app, customers can view real-time account balances and recent transaction history, transfer funds, deposit checks into their First Bank accounts, and more. We have over 100 branches spreading across North Carolina and South Carolina, but with the First Bank mobile app, you can bank with us 24/7 and deposit checks on the go. Access your accounts securely and in a flash by using biometrics. So, go mobile and take care of your banking whenever and wherever you want! View a few capabilities you have when using the First Bank app: - Review account activity and balances by date and description through the mobile app or using an Apple Watch - Move funds between First Bank accounts and external accounts - Deposit checks with ease from your phone using our mobile deposit feature - Gain financial clarity with MyMoney, allowing you to view financial patterns, create custom categories for transaction history, and link accounts from other financial institutions - Add your cards to your Mobile Wallet for faster, more convenient payments - Enroll in Digital Banking directly through the mobile app - Find First Bank branches across the Carolinas and more. Secure your account with a fingerprint or face reader on supported devices. First Bank is the leading independent, full-service community bank in the Carolinas. From personal to business banking, our local team is here to help you. *Mobile connectivity and usage fees may apply. Contact your mobile phone provider for more information. Member FDIC.

About

SECU

Manage your finances on the go with this mobile banking app. View account balances, pay bills, transfer funds, and deposit checks securely. It also allows you to manage your cards and communicate with the institution through secure messaging.

Highlights
  • View account balances and transactions
  • Lock/unlock debit cards
  • Schedule and manage bill payments
  • Transfer funds between accounts
  • Deposit checks via mobile
  • Request loan advances
  • Secure messaging
Read full description

SECU Digital Banking Manage your accounts anytime, anywhere. Designed with our members in mind, our new Member Access experience makes it easier than ever to manage your finances securely and conveniently from your mobile device. With the SECU mobile app, you can: • View account balances and transaction history • Transfer money between accounts • Deposit checks using Mobile Deposit • Pay bills and manage payees • Send and receive secure messages • Set up account alerts and notifications • Manage debit and credit cards • Locate branches and ATMs • Update contact information • Create and manage budgets and savings goals • Access enhanced security features, including biometric login (supported devices) Secure and Convenient Your security is our priority. The app uses advanced encryption and authentication tools to help protect your financial information. Getting Started Enroll or sign in using your current member access credentials. Contact Us Visit www.ncsecu.org for more information. Send feedback and suggestions to appfeedback@ncsecu.org

Screenshots

First Bank Digital Banking4 screens
SECU4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: SECU at free against First Bank Digital Banking's free with in-app purchases. SECU also leads on ratings volume (276K vs 6.6K) and rating (4.9 vs 4.6). First Bank Digital Banking's advantage is review sentiment (86% vs 64%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SECU holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SECU has 276K ratings behind it against 6.6K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 86% of First Bank Digital Banking's written reviews are positive against 64% of SECU's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

First Bank Digital Banking ships an update every 3 months, SECU every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 23, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
First Bank Digital Banking versus SECU: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFirst Bank Digital BankingSECU
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (6.6K ratings)4.9 (276K ratings) — better
Positive reviews85.9% of reviews — better64.4% of reviews
Number of ratings6.6K276K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.016.0
Further details — not scored
Size130 MB43 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFIRST BANCORPNorth Carolina State Employees' Credit Union

Customer experience

First Bank Digital Banking

All ratings6,339 ratings
Positive90.3%
Neutral2.9%
Negative6.8%
Written reviews665 reviews
Positive85.9%
Neutral4.1%
Negative10.1%

SECU

All ratings276,479 ratings
Positive97.9%
Neutral1.0%
Negative1.1%
Written reviews719 reviews
Positive64.4%
Neutral4.7%
Negative30.9%

User reviews

First Bank Digital Banking

From 6.6K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Easy to use
  • 👍 User-friendly
  • 🔒 Secure
  • 💡 Convenient features
  • 🚀 Efficient

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional glitches
  • 🐛 Slow performance
  • 🐛 Difficult navigation
  • 💡 Missing features (Zelle, credit card management)

SECU

From 276K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 User-friendly app
  • 🚀 Efficient mobile banking features
  • 🔒 Secure transactions
  • 💡 Convenient mobile check deposit
  • 👍 Helpful and friendly customer service

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Unreliable mobile deposit
  • 🐛 Inconsistent transaction history display
  • 🐛 Frequent app crashes and glitches
  • 🔍 Lack of advanced features (notes, recurring transfers)

Bugs and requests

First Bank Digital Banking

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Mobile deposit issues
  • Inconsistent transaction posting
  • Frequent logouts

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to save password/login credentials
  • Improved bill pay functionality
  • Integrate credit card accounts
  • Add Zelle integration
  • Optimize for mobile use

SECU

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Login screen issues causing lockouts
  • Mobile deposit not recognizing check orientation
  • Inconsistent app performance after iOS updates

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add notes/memos to transactions
  • Enable recurring transfers between accounts
  • Implement true landscape mode for tablets
  • Improve email/text alert options

In-app purchases

None

First Bank Digital Banking

No in-app purchases

None

SECU

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is First Bank Digital Banking free?
First Bank Digital Banking is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SECU free?
SECU is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, First Bank Digital Banking or SECU?
SECU is rated higher. First Bank Digital Banking averages 4.6 out of 5 from 6.6K ratings, while SECU averages 4.9 from 276K ratings.
Do First Bank Digital Banking or SECU have ads?
Neither First Bank Digital Banking nor SECU shows ads.
Which is updated more often, First Bank Digital Banking or SECU?
First Bank Digital Banking ships an update every 3 months, and SECU every 2 months. Most recently, First Bank Digital Banking was updated on October 23, 2026 and SECU on October 23, 2026.

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