Isaias Payment Relief: Regions Bank Offers Deferrals, Fee Waivers and Loan Discounts in South Alabama

Regions Bank is offering Isaias payment relief, fee waivers and discounted loans to eligible customers in dozens of South Alabama ZIP codes, as families and business owners across the region work through cleanup, repairs and, in some cases, rebuilding after Hurricane Isaias.

The Birmingham-based bank announced the assistance Wednesday for designated ZIP codes in South Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. The package includes help with loan payments, credit card payment deferrals, business loan payment deferrals of up to 90 days, waived ATM fees, a penalty-free certificate of deposit withdrawal and free cashing of FEMA-issued checks at Regions branches.

Isaias made landfall near Destin, Fla., as a Category 2 hurricane on the night of Friday, Oct. 9, then pushed north across Alabama, toppling trees onto homes, tearing roofs from businesses and knocking out power for days in rural communities from Escambia and Conecuh counties into Monroe, Covington and Coffee counties.

‘Where we can be of service, we want to help’

Bank leaders said the goal is to ease some of the financial pressure that piles up after a storm, when repair bills, lost wages and insurance deductibles can arrive all at once.

“Many people and businesses are navigating extensive cleanup, repairs, and, in some cases, even rebuilding. Where we can be of service, we want to help,” said John Jordan, head of Consumer Banking for Regions.

“In addition to these services, we’re also here to listen to customers’ unique needs and help develop financial solutions. We have experience helping our neighbors with rebuilding and recovery, and we are committed to standing behind our customers,” Jordan said.

Tina Gilmore, Greater Gulf Coast Consumer Banking executive for Regions, said the bank wants storm-affected residents to know where to turn.

“In the aftermath of a major storm, access to financial support and trusted guidance is crucial,” Gilmore said. “We want our communities to know Regions Bank stands ready to help them navigate the days, weeks and months ahead.”

What Regions is offering

The assistance is spread across several products. Here is a breakdown of the main offers and their deadlines:

• Loan and credit card payment help: Eligible customers can seek assistance with loan payments and request credit card payment deferrals.
• Business loan deferrals: Business owners can request loan payment assistance and payment deferrals of up to 90 days. The business deferral offer expires Jan. 12, 2027.
• ATM fee waivers: Through Oct. 20, Regions will waive its ATM surcharge for noncustomers who use Regions ATMs in affected areas. It will also waive its own fees when Regions customers use other banks’ ATMs in those areas, though the other bank or ATM owner may still charge a fee.
• Penalty-free CD withdrawal: Through Jan. 12, 2027, customers can request one early withdrawal from a certificate of deposit without a penalty. The withdrawal can be partial or for the full balance, but it must occur more than seven days after the CD was opened or most recently renewed.
• Loan rate discounts: Through Jan. 12, 2027, customers in affected areas who apply at a branch or by phone can get interest rate discounts of up to 0.50 percentage point on eligible new personal unsecured loans and nonbusiness auto loans.
• Mortgage programs: Regions is offering mortgage disaster relief purchase and renovation loan programs for customers who need to buy or repair a home.
• FEMA check cashing: Regions will waive check-cashing fees for FEMA-issued checks cashed at a Regions branch.

The fine print on loan discounts

The auto loan discount comes with conditions. Applicants must have a Regions deposit account that has been open for at least six months. The maximum 0.50-point discount is made up of two parts: a 0.25-point disaster relief discount and an additional 0.25-point discount for enrolling in automatic payments from an existing Regions checking account.

The personal unsecured loan and auto loan discounts cannot be combined with other special offers or discounts, and all loans remain subject to eligibility requirements and credit approval.

FEMA checks and noncustomers

The free FEMA check-cashing offer applies to Regions customers. People who do not bank with Regions can still take advantage of it, but they must first enroll in Now Banking, a Regions service for check cashing, prepaid cards and money transfers that does not require a checking account.

Whether FEMA checks will be issued to Alabama households after Isaias depends on decisions still ahead. The emergency declaration President Donald Trump approved for Alabama on Oct. 9 covers Mobile, Baldwin and Escambia counties and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, and it is limited to emergency protective measures. It does not open FEMA’s Individual Assistance program, which provides direct payments to households. State and county teams are still documenting damage in the hardest-hit counties to determine whether Alabama can seek a broader major disaster declaration.

Deferral is not forgiveness

Regions cautioned that payment relief postpones payments rather than erasing them. Interest continues to accrue during the relief period, and postponed payments may come due in full when it ends, along with any other amounts owed, unless the customer works out a different arrangement with the bank.

That distinction matters for household budgets. A borrower who skips three months of payments may face a larger lump sum or a longer loan term later, and the total cost of the loan can rise because interest keeps building. Consumer advocates generally recommend that borrowers ask a lender several questions before agreeing to any deferral:

• How much interest will accrue during the deferral period?
• Will the skipped payments be due all at once, added to the end of the loan or spread across remaining payments?
• Will the deferral be reported to credit bureaus, and how?
• Is there any fee to enroll?
• What documentation of storm damage or income loss is needed?

Getting the answers in writing can help avoid surprises when the relief period ends.

Who qualifies

Assistance varies by customer and may require documentation and credit approval. The offers are limited to individuals and businesses affected by Isaias in the designated ZIP codes, and Regions said more areas could be added as damage assessments continue. Customers can contact Regions to confirm their eligibility and talk through which options fit their situation.

According to Regions, most of its branches in the affected areas have reopened, though two locations need more extensive repairs.

Eligible Alabama ZIP codes

Regions released the following Alabama ZIP codes on Oct. 14. They stretch from Butler and Crenshaw counties south through Covington, Coffee, Geneva, Escambia, Conecuh and Monroe counties and into parts of Baldwin County, and include communities such as Evergreen (36401), Andalusia (36420), Brewton (36426), Flomaton (36441), Monroeville (36460), Range (36473), Atmore (36502), Robertsdale (36567) and Enterprise (36330).

• 36009, 36015, 36028, 36033, 36037, 36038, 36071
• 36313, 36314, 36316, 36318, 36323, 36330, 36331, 36340, 36344, 36351
• 36401, 36420, 36421, 36426, 36427, 36429, 36432, 36439, 36441, 36442, 36445, 36453, 36454, 36455, 36456, 36458, 36460, 36461, 36467, 36470, 36471, 36473, 36474, 36475, 36476, 36477, 36480, 36483
• 36502, 36503, 36504, 36530, 36543, 36549, 36561, 36562, 36567, 36574

Additional ZIP codes may be added after further assessments, so residents whose ZIP code is not listed should check with the bank.

Other financial relief after Isaias

The Regions offers are one piece of a broader set of relief measures for storm victims. The Internal Revenue Service has postponed many federal filing and payment deadlines to Feb. 4, 2027, for individuals and businesses in the 40 Alabama counties covered by Gov. Kay Ivey’s state of emergency, and the Alabama Department of Revenue has said it will consider state penalty waivers on a case-by-case basis.

Residents who bank elsewhere should call their own bank, credit union, mortgage servicer or auto lender. Many lenders offer hardship programs after disasters, but they are not always advertised, and borrowers often must ask before a payment is missed. Customers with mortgages backed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the FHA, the VA or the USDA may also be eligible for disaster forbearance through their servicer.

Other steps that can protect household finances during recovery include:

• Document everything. Photograph storm damage before cleaning up, and keep receipts for tarps, tree removal, generators, fuel, hotel stays and repairs.
• File insurance claims promptly. Write down claim numbers and the names of everyone you speak with.
• Report damage to your county EMA. Local damage reports feed the state’s case for any additional federal assistance.
• Watch for scams. FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration do not charge fees for inspections or for help with applications. Be wary of contractors who demand large payments up front.
• Call 211. Alabama’s 211 line can connect residents with local help for food, water, shelter and cleanup.