Does First Bank still belong to J.C. Flowers in 2026?

No. Intesa Sanpaolo's acquisition of First Bank from US fund J.C. Flowers closed on 28 March 2024. Since then, the bank is part of the Italian group, although the First Bank brand remains on the market in 2026.

How long does First Bank take to approve a personal loan?

For clients with positive history at the bank, the preliminary decision comes in 1-2 working days after a complete file. For new clients, the typical interval reported by users in 2025 is 3-7 working days, especially if income comes from an employer who does not pay salary through First Bank.

What is the typical APR at First Bank for a 47,500 RON loan over 60 months?

In June 2026, First Bank's list offer for this amount and term indicates an APR between 10.47% and 15.38%, depending on internal scoring and the insurance package. Clients receiving salary in their First Bank account report offers at the lower end of the range.

Can I prepay a First Bank loan without a fee?

For consumer loans with variable interest, GEO 50/2010 prohibits early-repayment fees. With fixed interest, the bank may charge 1% of the prepaid amount (0.5% if prepayment falls in the last year). Check the interest type in your contract before paying.

First Bank Romania 2026 reviews: interest rates, complaints

First Bank entered 2026 with a dual identity that much of the market still fails to read correctly. The brand looks the same on signage and statements, yet the controlling shareholder is, since 28 March 2024, the Italian group Intesa Sanpaolo. For the customer signing a loan contract in June 2026, that change matters more than it appears at a glance.

We looked at the bank's pricing, 142 independent reviews collected between January and May 2026, plus the complaints data published by ANPC. The short version: First Bank stays a solid choice for someone with stable income, while processing speed and digital service still trail other mid-sized banks.

Quick answer

First Bank, formerly Piraeus Bank Romania until 2018, is today part of the Intesa Sanpaolo group. Assets near 13 billion RON place it in slot 12-14 of the Romanian banking ranking. For a personal loan of 47,500 RON over 60 months, the effective annual rate reported in June 2026 sits between 10.47% and 15.38%. A network of 152 branches covers large and mid-sized cities, though presence in small towns has thinned since 2022.

Legal status and history

The registration code J40/14080/2003 hides a story with several chapters. The bank was initially listed as Piraeus Bank Romania, a subsidiary of the Greek group. In 2018, US fund J.C. Flowers acquired the majority stake and rebranded the bank as First Bank. Around the same time, the bank absorbed the remaining operations of Banca Comerciala Carpatica, which brought part of the traditional Transylvanian network.

The second major shift came in 2024. Intesa Sanpaolo, already present in Romania with a narrow corporate operation, announced the First Bank takeover on 14 October 2023 and closed the deal on 28 March 2024. In 2026, operational integration continues, with management officially communicating that full system alignment with group standards is expected toward year-end.

Why shareholder structure matters for a retail customer

Two things change in a transition like this. First: risk policy aligns gradually with the Italian group's standards, which are stricter than the Romanian market average. Second: certain products, particularly wealth and premium mortgages, are reshaped along the Intesa model. For a personal loan, the change is modest, but a slightly more conservative internal scoring trend was visible in 2025 compared with 2023.

Main products right now

First Bank's retail portfolio in June 2026 rests on four clear pillars.

Personal loans

Maximum amount: 175,000 RON, maximum term 84 months. Fixed interest for the full period is the headline offer in 2026, after variable rates lost traction in mid-2025. Minimum income requirements: 1,850 RON net for employees and 2,350 RON for pensioners or PFA self-employed.

Mortgage loans

The bank still offers Prima Casa, rebranded Casa Verde since 2024, plus standard mortgages. The minimum down payment climbed to 17.5% in 2025, while the analysis fee is 412 RON for a standard file. The APR for a 285,000 RON mortgage over 30 years stands around 7.84% in June 2026.

Cards and accounts

The Cont Confort package costs 13 RON per month if monthly card turnover exceeds 850 RON, otherwise 22 RON. Revolving credit cards show APRs between 22.4% and 29.8%, in line with the market average.

Deposits

Term deposit rates dropped after the BNR easing cycle in Q1 2026. At 12 months, the list offer shows 5.12% for RON and 1.87% for EUR. High-turnover clients sometimes secure 0.15-0.25 percentage points more through negotiation.

Interest rates and APR in 2026

We requested five personalised offers through the First Bank online form between 12 and 28 May 2026, across different income profiles. The results show a clear spread between scenarios.

For a net salary of 4,350 RON and 32,500 RON over 48 months, the offer came back with a 8.72% nominal rate and 10.47% APR, conditional on salary credit at First Bank and the partner insurer's life policy. The same simulation without the package pushed APR to 12.84%.

For a PFA income of 6,200 RON and 87,500 RON over 72 months, nominal interest was 11.18% and APR 13.92%. For a pensioner earning 3,150 RON and borrowing 18,500 RON over 36 months, the APR climbed to 15.38%, near the bank's internal cap for that segment.

Bogdan Baicu, senior credit analyst, former retail scoring coordinator at a Top 5 bank: "First Bank has one advantage that rarely makes the headlines: their scoring recognises mixed income better than most competitors. A client with salary plus rental income can get a better offer here than at a major bank, provided the last two years' tax returns are on the table. On the weaker side, cross-bank refinancing is still handled manually and takes longer than at the competition."

For a direct comparison with banks of similar size, see our guide on comparing APRs across Romanian banks in 2026.

Customer experience: 142 reviews analysed

We read 142 reviews posted between January and May 2026 on Trustpilot, Reddit r/Romania, Reclamatii.ro and Facebook groups dedicated to personal finance. Here is what stands out.

What clients appreciate

The personal tone of branch advisors is flagged in 67 of 142 reviews. Compared with larger banks, First Bank seems to preserve a culture closer to the client, especially in mid-sized cities. The approval process for clients with positive history is described as quick: 1-2 working days for the preliminary decision.

The mobile app, redesigned in December 2024, scores 3.7 stars on average in recent reviews. The QR payment feature was fixed in March 2026 after persistent 2025 bug reports.

What clients complain about

The three most frequent gripes: telephone service speed (average wait 8-14 minutes, reported across 39 reviews), withdrawal fees at non-First Bank ATMs (6.5 RON plus 0.5% of the amount, above market average), and the formal complaints procedure that often runs past 30 days.

One February 2026 review describes a concrete case: a client requested early closure on a 12,350 RON loan, deposited the amount and only received confirmation 19 days later, while the loan still showed active on statements. The case was resolved, yet generated real stress for the customer.

ANPC complaints: the official picture

According to the ANPC report for H1 2025, First Bank received 217 formal complaints. Of these, 134 were resolved in the client's favour (61.7%), 53 in the bank's favour (24.4%), and 30 were still pending at the publication date. Against an active client base estimated at 487,000 in the 2024 annual report, the complaint rate is 0.45 per thousand clients, below the mid-sized bank segment average.

Leading complaint categories: undisclosed or unclear fees (28%), delays in loan closure processing (22%), refusal to apply the cap under GEO 24/2025 for vulnerable categories (14%).

Alternatives to First Bank for 2026

If First Bank's scoring does not work in your favour, three pragmatic alternatives exist for an average income profile. Patria Bank is friendlier with rural income and PFA self-employed, but the network is smaller. Garanti BBVA delivers better offers if you already hold an active credit card with turnover. For amounts under 25,000 RON, regulated non-bank lenders approve faster, at a higher total cost. See our personal loan comparison page for a direct view across active offers.

Editorial disclaimer

This article is an independent journalistic analysis, not personalised financial advice. Interest rates and conditions reflect the bank's list offer as of 9 June 2026 and may change without notice. Kreditano receives affiliate commissions from some banks for applications initiated through the platform, while editorial content stays independent of commercial relationships. For an exact personalised offer, check directly with the bank.

The verdict, as a financial journalist

First Bank in June 2026 is neither the cheapest bank on the market nor the most expensive. It is a mid-sized institution with almost a quarter century of presence in Romania, going through integration with a large European group. For the client who values personal advice in the branch and has stable income, the offer remains competitive. For those who want everything digital and fast, alternatives are stronger. I would request a personalised offer in parallel with at least two other banks, since APR variation on the same profile can reach 4 percentage points.

How to choose the right bank for a loan in 2026, Loan refinancing: when it makes sense and when it does not, Mortgage loan comparison 2026.

First Bank Romania 2026 reviews: interest rates, complaints, what to know after the Intesa takeover