March 12, 2021
Please continue to visit this page for the most up-to-date information on our response.
Economic Impact "Stimulus" Payments
As you've probably heard, the federal government's Coronavirus economic relief package includes Economic Impact Payments -- more commonly referred to as stimulus payments to most taxpayers. (To find out if you're eligible, visit IRS.gov/coronavirus or IRS.gov/EIP.)
If you're eligible, the IRS will either deposit the money directly into your bank account, send you a check, or send you a debit card.
If your 2019 or 2020 tax refund was direct deposited, your payment will be deposited to the same bank account as your refund. Simply log into Online Banking or our Mobile Banking app to see the deposit in your account.
If you receive a check, you can save a trip to the bank by depositing it using Mobile Check Deposit. Just follow these easy steps:
- Download our Mobile Banking App from The App Store® or Google PlayTM and open it.
- Log in using your Online Banking username and password OR click "Register Now" to sign up.
- Click on "Deposit a Check" and follow the steps for entering the check amount, choosing your deposit account, and taking a picture of the front and back of the check.
- Don't forget to sign the back of your check and write "For mobile deposit only" above your signature.
Who is eligible for Economic Impact Payments?
Tax filers with adjusted gross income of up to $75,000 for individuals and up to $150,000 for married couples filing joint returns in 2019 or 2020 will receive the full payment. Individuals earning up to $80,000 or married couples filing jointly earning up to $160,000 will receive a reduced payment amount.
Individuals earning $80,000 or more, married couples filing jointly earning $160,000 or more, and heads of households earning $120,000 or more will not receive a stimulus payment.
Recipients of Social Security, Railroad Retirement, disability, and veteran’s benefits as well as taxpayers who do not have enough earnings to typically have to file a tax return are also eligible to receive payments.
For many taxpayers, payments will be made automatically with no further action required. The IRS will calculate and automatically send the Economic Impact Payment to those eligible. Eligible taxpayers who filed tax returns for 2019 or 2020 will automatically receive an Economic Impact Payment of up to $1,400 for individuals or $2,800 for married couples, plus up to $1,400 for each qualifying dependent, regardless of the dependent's age.
How will the payments be issued?
You will receive your payment based on the way you received your tax refund.
If your tax refund was direct deposited, your payment will be deposited to the same bank account reflected on your tax return filed in 2019 or 2020. If the direct deposit information is not current with the IRS, then you may receive your payment in the form of a check or debit card in the mail. If you received your tax refund by check, you will receive your payment by check.
When are Federal Economic Payments going out?
The IRS and the Treasury Department began to issue a third round of Economic Impact Payments, often referred to as stimulus payments. The bank is beginning to receive the EIP direct deposit. The EIP payments are pending transactions with an effective date of March 17th. With our Early Pay service the direct deposit will post to the account on Tuesday, March 16th.
How can I verify that my payment was sent?
You may check the status of your payment using the “Get My Economic Impact Payment” portal on the IRS.gov website.
Where can I get more information?
The IRS will post all key information on IRS.gov/coronavirus and IRS.gov/EIP as soon as it becomes available.
Protect Yourself from Fraud
Where many of us see uncertainty, fraudsters see opportunity. Scammers have developed fraudulent websites, emails, and telemarketing calls to try to swindle taxpayers out of their stimulus payments. Others are trying to peddle Coronavirus-related cures, treatments, and other products. All are designed to get their hands on your money or your personal or financial information. Be vigilant and cautious!
Here are some ways to protect yourself:
- Do not give anyone your account information or Online Banking username and password in connection with speeding up stimulus payments. The IRS will not text, call or email you to ask for or verify your banking information for your stimulus payment. Do not fall for scams promising to speed up your payment or asking you to sign over your payment check. Watch out for bogus checks, perhaps in an odd amount, with instructions to verify banking information by phone or online in order to cash it.
- Do not fall for emails, calls, or websites advertising products or services that promise protection, treatments, or cures for Coronavirus. None are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and no legitimate home test kits or vaccinations are for sale.
- Never open emails or click on the links or attachments in emails from unknown or unsolicited senders. Doing so could download malicious software onto your computer or device or lead you to fake websites looking to steal your personal information.
- Make sure you have the most up-to-date security software and the latest updates downloaded on your computer or device. If you suspect you've been the victim of a scam, contact our Customer Care team immediately at 855.527.4111.
To learn more about protecting yourself and sign up for consumer alerts on the latest scams related to Coronavirus, visit the Federal Trade Commission's Coronavirus page.
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Branch Lobbies Open on March 8
COVID-19 case counts have continued to fall dramatically since their peak in early January, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In fact, new daily cases have now returned to levels not experienced since last fall. While we’re far from being able to let down our guard, this trend coupled with continued vaccination efforts has allowed bankESB to soon resume in-branch operations while continuing to ensure our locations are safe places to do business.
All branch lobbies are open for regular operating hours as of Monday, March 8. On behalf of our entire staff, we welcome you back once again. Our preventative measures will remain in place, including plexiglass shields, floor markings, hand sanitizer, and mask requirements. If at any time after we reopen it becomes necessary to temporarily close or reduce hours in one of our locations due to the pandemic, we will communicate this information on our website.
We continue to accept and encourage appointments for essential, in‑branch services. To request an appointment, visit our website’s Locations page and click on the “Request an Appointment” button to select the date, time, and location most convenient for you. Or, contact our Customer Care team at 855.527.4111 to request an in-branch appointment by phone.
We also encourage you to continue using our bank-at-home electronic services as well as our drive-up windows and ATMs as alternatives to visiting a branch lobby.
We’re here for you.
We take our responsibility for providing you with essential services seriously and thank you for sticking by us as we continue operating in ways that keep you and our employees safe. As our lobbies reopen, our commitment to helping you live your life, support your family, or run your business only strengthens. You can count on us, and we look forward to seeing you soon.
Continue to Bank Beyond the Branch
We make it easy for you to stay connected to your money by offering a variety of smart banking technologies that ensure you’re able to access your accounts, pay bills, make purchases, contact a representative, and more.
Learn more here and see the chart below for all the ways you can connect with us and your funds!
Request an Appointment Online to Visit a Branch
We still encourage you to make an appointment online to visit one of our branches in person. Simply click here, then choose the branch nearest you, the service you need, and select from among the dates and times available. A branch representative will contact you to confirm your appointment.
In-Branch Personal Protection Measures
If you do visit a branch, here are some of the personal protection measures we have in place to keep you and our employees safe.
- Protective shields at all our teller lines and customer-facing staff desks.
- Floor markers and directional signage to manage customer foot traffic, including dedicated entry and exit doors when possible, to help promote social distancing.
- Face coverings required for anyone over the age of two who enters our buildings. Please note that you may be asked to remove your face covering briefly for identification purposes. If you are unable to wear a face covering, we ask that you continue using our drive-up services.
- Hand sanitizing stations at all entrances.
- Enhanced cleaning and sanitizing protocols at all our sites.
- A “no handshake” policy.
Ways to Learn More.
If you're looking for more information on the Coronavirus or ways to protect yourself, visit these websites:
The Centers for Disease Control
The World Health Organization
The Mass.gov Coronavirus Update
The Federal Trade Commission
Additional Resources.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) has recently released several resources to help consumers take steps to protect their finances during the COVID-19 pandemic, including how to avoid financial scams and submit complaints to the Bureau:
Protect yourself financially from the impact of the coronavirus
The CFPB information and resources for informed financial decisions
Protecting your credit during the coronavirus pandemic
Coronavirus and dealing with debt: Tips to help ease the impact
Tips for financial caregivers during the coronavirus pandemic
We're Here to Help.
Of course, if you need assistance, you can call our Customer Care team to speak with a representative at 855.527.4111. Our hours of operation are:
Monday - Wednesday: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday: 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday: 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM