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Home > Finance > Banking & Personal Finance > Internet Banks > First Direct
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135 Reviews

Community Quote

I applied for a first direct account as I currently have a Santander regular saver that is coming to an end and the First Direct one is offering 8% but to get his I need an account. Not a problem... more

User Reviews

for First Direct

Rating Summary based on 135 reviews

  • 5 Stars
    		88
  • 4 Stars
    		21
  • 3 Stars
    		3
  • 2 Stars
    		9
  • 1 Star
    		14

Detailed rating

  • Additional Charges
  • Competitiveness of APR
  • Ease of Application
  • Product package
  • Quality of Customer Service
  		• 2.6
  		• 3.1
  		• 3.7
  		• 3.6
  		• 3.8
  • 40 of 40 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of atticusuk

    Level 7 atticusuk

    Member since 22/02/2004

    Reviews written: 310

    4 Stars It's good to come first 13/10/2005
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages speak to a real person

    Disadvantages Disadvantages charges on overdraft

    The competition for our banking business is not always as competitive as it should be, mainly because of customer inertia which results in many of us staying with the same bank. The main banks enjoy this as it helps them maintain market share. For many banks the current account is a loss leader, it provides little in the way of revenue provided the account holder remains in credit or within an agreed overdraft limit whilst the average cost for a bank to operate a current account is £70 per year. At least that was the figure used by the bank that I worked in for the past 16 years. For most ... more
  • 18 of 18 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of Krazikas

    Krazikas

    5 Stars First Direct - Banking Heaven 14/06/2009
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Excellent customer service

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Low interest rate

    I know that I have written a reviews recently about First Direct (a division of HSBC Bank plc) and their products and facilities and 'no', I do not work for them and am not on any commission! However, I would be delighted to work for them as I think they are absolutely first class..... After 30 years of banking with the Halifax I moved to First Direct for my banking. The reason I moved was because I took out a mortgage with First Direct and one of the conditions for getting a mortgage was that I had to open a bank account with them. I can quite honestly say that First Direct are like a breath ... more
  • 29 of 29 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of garbadine

    garbadine

    5 Stars The First bank who meets my needs! 11/06/2004
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Superb service, friendly staff, access via phone, internet, email, text message whenever you need it

    Disadvantages Disadvantages none whatsoever

    I joined First Direct about 2 years ago. I had just graduated and was fed up with my current bank (NatWest) who did not seem to do ANYTHING to make life easier for me, the customer. My other half recommended FD to me, and at first I was a bit dubious about a bank where you couldn't actually go into a branch and see anyone. However, I have to say that First Direct have been fantastic from the word 'go'. Because of the hours I work, and where I work and where I live, it's not easy for me to get to a bank in person. With First Direct, it doesn't matter. I set up my account over the phone, they ... more
  • 115 of 115 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of Connoisseur_Haggler

    Connoisseur_Haggler

    5 Stars The Ultimate FIRST CLASS service Diamond review 24/02/2002
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Excellent first class service, fast response, high security, can bank via PC, internet, mobile phone & telephone 24 hours a day

    Disadvantages Disadvantages none really (interest rates for internet could be higher..though they aren’t bad)

    I have been banking with First Direct, a division of HSBC Bank since 1995. With 7 years experience with this bank I would like to put forward my opinion of their internet banking and service. First direct was one of the first telephone banking services introduced in the UK in the late 1980’s; offering 24/7 access to your bank account; something quite unheard of at that time! So, when First Direct made the revolutionary move and launched their new internet/PC banking on 18 July 2000 I immediately signed up without any hesitation. I knew they would be able to provide an efficient service ... more
  • 32 of 32 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of Andy0304

    Andy0304

    5 Stars The First Nearly Perfect Bank?? 07/10/2004
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages 24/7 Helpful Customer Service, text message banking, online banking

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Charge high fees for unauthorised items, no branches

    I decided to transfer my current account about 18 months ago as I had decided enough was enough with the service I was receiving from Barclays. My biggest problem had to be 1 of two things I thought, firstly which bank? Secondly, would it go smoothly? After looking up all of the usual High Street banks including the likes of Halifax, Lloyds TSB etc etc, I still had not made up my mind. That is when someone suggested to be have I ever heard of First Direct. I had seen some of their adverts on TV but to be honest never paid much attention. As I had got no where with the other banks, it had to be ... more