First Direct for NI Customers

Cotta

Hi All,

I have an old Danskee account that just has my salary paid into it. I am thinking of using the switch facility to close my Danskee account and setup a Frist Direct account.

My queries are (a) is this First Direct account available to customers from Northern Ireland and (b) what needs to be provided when setting up the account?

Thanks in advance.

RikM

http://www1.firstdirect.com/1/2/banking/switching-bank-accounts

There's specific mention of customers in Northern Ireland on their switching site. I've not done it, but it sounds like you just fill out a form.

I'm surprised if it's that simple though (I work for a bank and "due dilligence" is hammered into us - evem though we don't have *any* customer contact).

Cotta

I tried setting this up last year, however due to issues regarding being an NI resident it fell through. That was why I was wondering if things had improved at all?

Yankees

Hi


I've been with First Direct for over 12 years (current a/c, savings a/c and offset mortgage account) and find them absolutely brilliant, albeit my banking requirements are not too complicated. You can ring them anytime day or night and get speaking to someone within 30 seconds.


I can't remember exactly what we needed to do to join First Direct back then but I can remember it was not a big issue.


First Direct is owned by HSBC and there is a branch of HSBC in Belfast. We used this facility before when we needed a bank draft raised by FD and sent to HSBC for collection.


Go for it!!!

BatCat

Hi,
I switched to First direct 2 years ago and it was quick and easy. So simple i got my husband to switch. Lovely bank!

Cotta

BatCat wrote: »

Hi,
I switched to First direct 2 years ago and it was quick and easy. So simple i got my husband to switch. Lovely bank!

I wonder why it was so tricky for me, what did you need to produce?

thefreckle

Cotta wrote: »

I wonder why it was so tricky for me, what did you need to produce?

I've just finished my switch to them. Did everything online and didn't have to submit any documentation.


Initial switch date was 17 September but it was changed to 23 September because I didn't contact them back in time. I paid in £1k prior to that (required for £150 bonus) and everything went ahead on 23 September. Bonus is in my account already.


The only thing was a text from O2 saying my phone bill hadn't been paid (presumably because my other account was closed). I see it's left my account now though and nothing more from O2 so all is presumably sorted.

Cotta

thefreckle wrote: »

I've just finished my switch to them. Did everything online and didn't have to submit any documentation.


Initial switch date was 17 September but it was changed to 23 September because I didn't contact them back in time. I paid in £1k prior to that (required for £150 bonus) and everything went ahead on 23 September. Bonus is in my account already.


The only thing was a text from O2 saying my phone bill hadn't been paid (presumably because my other account was closed). I see it's left my account now though and nothing more from O2 so all is presumably sorted.

I thought the only requirement was that your salary must be paid into this account, is it also necessary to have £1k in the account too?

thefreckle

Cotta wrote: »

I thought the only requirement was that your salary must be paid into this account, is it also necessary to have £1k in the account too?

You have to pay in £1k to activate the bonus - it doesn't have to be a salary. I think there's a cost to the account that you can avoid by paying in your salary (or just pay in £1k per month from a non FD account) or it can also be avoided by opening a savings account with them.


I paid in the £1k and then transferred it into the savings account I opened straightaway

angel11

I switched to First Direct last year, very straight-forward & fantastic customer service. Hubby has now switched to them too.

For the fee-free a/c, £1k has to paid into a/c every month - not necessarily salary paid in, but it probably will be for most people.

Quite often they pay out £100 for switching to them, so worth checking that out too.