First Direct

First Direct provides personal banking through its app, online banking and phone banking.

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Quick overview

Its products include bank accounts, savings accounts, investment services and insurance.

Current and joint accounts.
Savings accounts, including cash ISAs and fixed rate savings.
Home, travel and mobile phone insurance.
Sharedealing and a Stocks and Shares ISA.
App features include spending insights, card controls and cheque deposits subject to limits.

Introduction

First Direct provides personal banking through its mobile app, online banking and phone banking.

Its products include current and joint accounts, savings accounts, investment services and insurance.

What First Direct offers

The bank provides current accounts, joint accounts and savings accounts. Customers can also access banking through the app, online and by phone.

Investment services and insurance are also available.

Product and service categories

Bank accounts

First Direct provides current accounts and joint accounts. A joint account is a current account that two people can access.

Savings accounts

Savings accounts include cash ISAs and fixed rate cash ISAs. Regular savings and fixed rate savings accounts are also available. The website provides savings articles and a savings account comparison.

Credit information

Information about credit scoring is also available.

Investing

Investment services include sharedealing and a Stocks and Shares ISA. Information is available about what can be traded. The bank also provides sharedealing help.

Insurance and assistance

Insurance includes home, travel and mobile phone cover. The site names Aviva in connection with travel and mobile phone insurance. Motor breakdown assistance with the RAC is also listed.

Browse the full range on the First Direct website.

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Brands named on the site

Aviva is named in connection with travel and mobile phone insurance, and the RAC is named for motor breakdown assistance.

Using the website

Online banking can be accessed on a desktop, tablet or mobile browser. Customers can view balances and transactions, download statements, request replacement cards and send messages to the bank.

Customers can also change their statement preferences through online banking. The website provides a digital banking help tool for recovering log-on details, along with information about registering for online banking.

Notable features

The mobile app shows balances, transactions and pending card authorisations. Spending insights group transactions by category or merchant, and customers can add their own labels. Transaction notifications can be enabled in the app.

App card controls include viewing card details and PINs, freezing and unfreezing cards, and setting cash machine withdrawal limits. Customers can also report a card as lost or stolen, request a replacement for a damaged card and place a gambling restriction on a debit card.

The app can be used to deposit cheques with a phone camera, subject to limits. Customers can also use HSBC branches for transactional banking; cash services at a branch are subject to limitations.

Chat is available in the app and through online banking. The bank also provides support for bereavement and other personal support needs.

Frequently asked questions

What bank accounts does First Direct provide?

First Direct provides current accounts and joint accounts. A joint account is accessible to two people.

Can I deposit a cheque using the app?

Yes, the app uses the phone camera to deposit cheques. Limits apply.

Can I download statements online?

Yes, statements can be downloaded through online banking. Customers can also change their paperless statement preferences there.

What card controls are available in the app?

Customers can view their card details and PIN, and freeze or unfreeze a card. They can also report a card as lost or stolen and set cash machine withdrawal limits.

How can I contact the bank through digital banking?

Customers can chat through the app or log in to online banking and select the messaging option. The app chat includes a chatbot and access to support.

What do I need to register for online banking on a desktop?

Existing customers need an up-to-date mobile number registered with the bank, their sort code and account number, and a registered Telephone Security Number. An up-to-date browser is also needed.

Key takeaways

Current and joint accounts are available.
Savings options include cash ISAs and fixed rate savings accounts.
Investment services include sharedealing and a Stocks and Shares ISA.
The app includes spending insights, card controls and cheque deposits subject to limits.
Customers can use online banking, phone banking and digital chat.

Summary

First Direct combines personal banking products with mobile, online and phone banking. Its services extend from bank accounts to investing, insurance and digital account management.