Thoughts on First Direct

Hazzanet

I have used them in the past and found them competent.

Not much else to say about them really.

Majestic12

Have had FD for about 2 years, no complaints apart from not sending a cheque book when asked (they then sent 3!).

Customer service is wonderful when I've had to call them.

The mobile app is poor, would like to see an upgrade soon.

Sweep facility is useful for making automatic payments from your current to your saving account

All in all, miles better than HSBC! (yes I know its part of the group)

Ballard

Majestic12 wrote: »

Have had FD for about 2 years, no complaints apart from not sending a cheque book when asked (they then sent 3!).

Customer service is wonderful when I've had to call them.

The mobile app is poor, would like to see an upgrade soon.

Sweep facility is useful for making automatic payments from your current to your saving account

Other than the regular savings account they're not overly generous with their pfferings. 0.25% for the instant access account isn't going to pay for many exotic holidays!

Majestic12

Ballard wrote: »

Other than the regular savings account they're not overly generous with their pfferings. 0.25% for the instant access account isn't going to pay for many exotic holidays!

You are right, the instant access and ISA accounts offer pitful interest. So many banks too. But the regular savings keeps me ticking over :beer:

shortcrust

I've just joined first direct for the switch bonus. My impression is that it's all quite dated and overly complicated. A text message with a password to read emailed documents before you have to phone them. Having to call them to verify a debit card for Apple Pay rather that just getting an instant text like other banks. Clunky internet banking with ott security. Poor quality phone app. And how much paper?! I swear I could paper one wall of my bathroom with all the bumf they've send me.

Ballard

By reading through posts on this site it's very clear that the FD app isn't at all popular but I'm not at all unhappy with it (I can only speak of the IOS app). Once it's set up it's a password to use it. No real difference to anyone else as far as I can see. Some banks require certain letters from a password but I find it easier to type the whole thing in.

You also need to use the app to get full use of internet banking and when setting up a new payee. This is a bit of a pain but the whole purpose is to keep my money safe so I don't have an issue (it's not something that I do very often anyway). Santander, for instance, send a text with a code for new payees.

System

I think the issue with First Direct, is that after all the marketing and golden recommendations, it really isn't better than other banks.

Especially, being a branchless, I expected the internet banking to be slick but it wasn't.

Vincent79

I would recommend a Nationwide Flex account, I have been with them since 2001 and have none of the usual problems you have with large organisations. Also they have an offer going at the moment for new accounts and the online banking is straightforward. Hope this helps.

bankersmug

Very overrated bank in my view. I moved my banking across from Lloyds when they started charging a fee as well as interest for using an approved overdraft.

First Direct managed to !!!! up my direct debits - 5 of my bills (including the mortgage) went unpaid and I had to pay manually for the first month.

If you want to pay anything in manually via an HSBC branch, it is like going back to the 80s - they have a lot to learn from Lloyds tech wise. There you can pay money in without having to fill out a single slip or form.

I've used telephone banking a handful of times - perfectly adequate without being remarkable.

I think back in the 90s before internet banking, FD must've been quite a breath of fresh air, but today its offering is unremarkable in my view.