First Direct > Reviews

Advantages: 24/7 Helpful Customer Service, text message banking, online banking
Disadvantages: Charge high fees for unauthorised items, no branches

...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 worth a look at least. Knowing that they were an online bank they obviously had a website so I set about finding it. Easy enough (www.firstdirect.com). I sat and looked through all of the information on their site which gave me everything I wanted to know so I requested an ... Read review

Advantages: Efficient, quick, easy to use, free access
Disadvantages: None at all

...have been a customer of First Direct ever since they first began trading offering a telephone banking service, and I have always been a satisfied customer. About two years ago First Direct decided to go on line and offered their customers the opportunity of PC banking. The unfortunate thing about this was that you had to load the software, provided by First Direct, from a disk onto your PC and then use it via a high cost telephone call whether ... Read review

Advantages: ease of access, great customer service
Disadvantages: low interest paid on cheque account

...this facility, I switched to first direct on the recommendation of a friend who, like me, worked long hours and wanted to be able to organise the payment of bills at any time of day. On the rare occasions when I need to deposit a cheque, I do go into a branch of HSBC (of which first direct are a division), and I usually have to queue, but I would rather do this than bank the cheque by post. Other than these isolated occurrences, banking and I have ... Read review

Advantages: Instant human contact / proactive
Disadvantages: None - in my experience

First a snapshot of the bank - 1) Owned by HSBC and created just after the merger of Midland and HSBC (not High Street Bank Company) freed up funds 2) Available on the phone instantly - no button pressing options / no holding (OK very rarely I have been put on hold) and in HSBC branches 3) 1.7% interest (to date) on balances - the first bank to offer higher than 0.01% on current accounts 4) Internet very easy to use - can manage accounts ... Read review

Advantages: Very easy to use, accessible and friendly efficient service
Disadvantages: No actual branches and can give steep charges if you are not careful

...to understand. I decided to join First Direct in 1998, when it first opened its virtual doors (if you look at their postcode you will see its LS98, Leeds 1998 – cool, isn’t it) They are probably based in the middle of nowhere in a huge warehouse and they got to choose their own postcode! Well I was looking for an easy to access bank, I am also at the Bank of Scotland, but living in Oxford at the time it’s quite hard to find a branch round there ... Read review

Advantages: Reliable, Friendly service, Ultra convenient
Disadvantages: None that I can think of

...changed my bank account to First Direct in 1994 and haven't looked back. Worrying about driving into town and battling through the madding crowd and the rain to reach a bank before it closes and then queuing to carry out my business in earshot of everybody else are distant memories. For the past nine years banking has been a pleasure. Up until 1999 my banking was done over the phone any time day or night, 365 days a year. When you have ... Read review

Advantages: Good Service, Easy to use website
Disadvantages: None so far

...money that tempted me to first direct. i has a leaflet come through with some mail that offered me £35 for opening an account with first direct. of course i was hunting high and low for the terms and conditions, looking for the catch but i was surprised to find that there wasn't one. the only stipulation was that i had to have a balance in the account by a certain date, that wasn't a problem. so i logged on the website and filled out an online ... Read review

Advantages: Always a friendly voice on the phone
Disadvantages: no face to a name

...and wap/text banking side of first direct is also a great asset my mobile tells me if I am getting close to my overdraft mark as I have a low level limit in place. A txt warns me of the account balance and the transactions that have passed though the account that day. So a quick phone call and transfer of money and the charges are avoided and it's free the pay to keep me informed of my accounts balance, The internet site is also great to use with ... Read review

Advantages: 24 Hours A Day, You Talk To A Human Voice, They Get Things Done
Disadvantages: Payins By Post, No Branches, Failure Of Technology

I first heard about First Direct from my boyfriend. He'd moved away to University and was having trouble doing his Banking because his account was with the Midland (now HSBC) and he hadn't realised they had hardly any branches in Scotland. The Midland had written to him saying that they were closing his old branch in Forest Hill in London, and moving customers to other branches nearby. But they had noticed he lived in Scotland and wondered if he'd ... Read review

Advantages: they repond quickly,execellent customer services, always keeping you informed
Disadvantages: none

...friend of mine banks with First Direct and he has been with them for about 7 years and he said that they are excellent and told me about all the benefits of banking with them and the other reason I am wanting to open an account with them is that if he introduces me to them then he and I will receive £25.00 each. Free money just for opening an account with them. I have heard that first direct have 24 hour, 365 days a year customer services so you ... Read review

Advantages: Best Internet Bank available
Disadvantages: Site can be slow

First Direct was the first bank ever to launch in the UK that was entirely telephone based. This was almost eleven years ago and they have since gone from strength to strength. Starting of with only a 24-hour telephone banking operation that offered every banking service available. First Direct is a member of Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) Group and has followed on in their success. HSBC is the biggest bank in the world and the success ... Read review

Advantages: Execellent customer service 24/7, good interest rates and no/low charges
Disadvantages: I can't think of any!!

10 years ago, First Direct were the first bank with no branches. With no branches, they were able to offer their customers very good interest and a new perspective on banking. I needed a change 10 years ago, so I joined them when they launched. 10 years on, I'm still with them. Today they're nothing revolutionary. Telephone banking is no longer cutting edge - Internet Banking is. First Direct have moved on to offer this as well, but there is now ... Read review