First Direct vs HSBC

Frontera2

I hold a current and savings account with HSBC and recently opened a new account, having been a customer years ago, with First Direct. I’m really shocked and disappointed at how poor relation FD appears to be compared with their parent HSBC.
The FD app and website appear to be out of the dark ages and you can’t do many things that you can with the HSBC app eg:

- No “Balance after bills” functionality 
- You can’t open savings accounts online, including the supposedly online only “Bonus Saver”
- Overdraft increases can only be done over the phone.

I know FD started as a telephone bank but surely in the digital era where things have moved on, their digital offering should be where the focus is nowadays?

Really disappointed and can’t help but wonder if the plan is to slowly retire the FD brand? Either that or they are going after a non-digital customer base?

wiseonesomeofthetime

Not so sure about retirement of the First Direct brand because wasn't it them who changed their logo to a weird fingerprint looking one recently?

Only had mine for the soon maturing regular saver, so never really taken any notice about the apps' other features/functionality, personally.

born_again

Once many years ago, FD were the guinea pig for HSBC idea's & upgrades. Now they are not. 
HSBC have learnt that despite FD being part of the same group, that they do not want FD taking HSBC customers. As it costs the group profit.

jon81uk

I've opened saving accounts on the First Direct app.

Rich2808

I have both - personally I would always bank with HSBC as my main account given their branch offering, better app and the fact they are a global brand. I once lost my debit card in Miami - went to the HSBC branch in Brickell and they let me call the UK for free to cancel the card. Its just nice to see that familiar sign - from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur to Stratford or Kingston upon Thames. No one outside the UK knows what First Direct is. Hopefully I will be allowed to go back to those places soon to experience that!
But FD are a good bank - a bit more 'elite' - and you can of course open savings accounts with them online. I did just last week!

Frontera2

Thanks for this.. when I’ve tried to do that with FD on their website, it tells me I have to call? The webpage says the same too? https://www1.firstdirect.com/savings-and-investments/savings/bonus-savings-account/ Or https://www1.firstdirect.com/savings-and-investments/savings/savings-account/

Rich2808

Frontera2 said:

Thanks for this.. when I’ve tried to do that with FD on their website, it tells me I have to call? The webpage says the same too? https://www1.firstdirect.com/savings-and-investments/savings/bonus-savings-account/ Or https://www1.firstdirect.com/savings-and-investments/savings/savings-account/

Have you tried opening the savings account via online banking - not via the app but on a deskptop. You generate a code from the app to login - or you may have the old HSBC style key card? I don't think the app allows you to open savings products - the desktop does?

Frontera2

Yep, same thing happens on desktop. It loads the page that I put a screenshot of above. The only savings account I can open online is the Regular Saver it seems. 

Rich2808

Frontera2 said:

Yep, same thing happens on desktop. It loads the page that I put a screenshot of above. The only savings account I can open online is the Regular Saver it seems. 

Yes - I used it for the regular saver.
To be fair given the rates on offer its probably the only one worth bothering with!

TheEffect

Internet banking and mobile banking saving account application forms have been temporarily disabled while they are updated. 

jon81uk

Can open regular saver or cash ISA in the app.