Smart Money People Logo

Voting in the British bank awards 2025 is open - Vote here

Share this page
Link copied

first direct reviews

First Direct Logo
Rated Excellent • 4.65/5

first direct reviews

Verified businesses always have up to date contact details and can respond to reviews.

Verified business
Last reviewed within 7 days
  • Fully digital service with no in-person branches
    Fully digital service with no in-person branches
  • Manage your account or policy via an app or website
    Manage your account or policy via an app or website
  • Offers digital wallet and contactless payment support
    Offers digital wallet and contactless payment support
  • FCA approved and regulated
    FCA approved and regulated

Review summary

People rate this company as Excellent based on 1,643 product reviews

Average score of 4.65/5
5 star
84%
4 star
9%
3 star
2%
2 star
1%
1 star
4%
Reviews for first direct have trended negatively over the past 90 days

Latest positive rating

5/5

Exckude banks who try to bribe their customers

When I have an issue there is someone I can speak to sort it out. The bank that sent me the email to vote for... When I have an issue there is someone I can speak to sort it out. The bank that sent me the email to vote for them was RCI, with an offer to be included in a draw with a potential prize of £1000 if I vote for them.This prize draw is not the intention of the review, is it? Shouldn't a bank trying to bribe customers to vote for them as an alternative to providing customer service be called out for that strategy? What is the point of this review, and why do you not exclude banks which offer prizes as a bribe instead of customer service? Read more Read less

{"display":"Disenchanted","full_name":"Disenchanted","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar

Latest negative rating

1/5

Beware when using FD credit card!

Beware when using FD credit card!!!!! They are unhelpful if you report a fraudulent transaction on their credit card. Reported a fraudulent transaction on my... Beware when using FD credit card!!!!! They are unhelpful if you report a fraudulent transaction on their credit card. Reported a fraudulent transaction on my FD credit card to the credit card given to me to fraud dept and customer services but was told they are not willing to take on it as fraud because they have concluded the payment was done from goggle pay registered to my phone. Also beware that freezing the card on the app does not entirely prevent transaction with the card. Read more Read less

{"display":"Mak","full_name":"Mak","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
Current Account
Mak 18th March 2025
See more reviews for first direct products

About first direct

first direct is a digital bank with headquarters in Leeds.

first direct is a division of HSBC UK Bank. It was founded in 1989 and was the UK's first telephone bank and the first to offer 24/7 service.

first direct help customers with bank accounts, mortgages, loans, credit cards, savings, investments and insurance.

first direct at a glance

Contact details

Phone
03456 100 100
Main address
first direct, 40 Wakefield Road, Leeds, LS98 1FD
Social media

Reviews for first direct

Showing 11 of 1643 company reviews • Last reviewed within 7 days

Exckude banks who try to bribe their customers

Current Account • 22nd March 2025

When I have an issue there is someone I can speak to sort it out. The bank that sent me the email to vote for... When I have an issue there is someone I can speak to sort it out. The bank that sent me the email to vote for them was RCI, with an offer to be included in a draw with a potential prize of £1000 if I vote for them.This prize draw is not the intention of the review, is it? Shouldn't a bank trying to bribe customers to vote for them as an alternative to providing customer service be called out for that strategy? What is the point of this review, and why do you not exclude banks which offer prizes as a bribe instead of customer service? Read more Read less

{"display":"Disenchanted","full_name":"Disenchanted","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
Rated Excellent • 5/5
Read more product reviews

Never been let down by this bank.

Current Account • 21st March 2025

Never been let down by this bank. app is easy to use,

{"display":"Paula D","full_name":"Paula D","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
Rated Excellent • 5/5
Read more product reviews
  • 5/5

    Super interest rate, best on the market

    Super interest rate, best on the market

    {"display":"Kenneth M","full_name":"Kenneth M","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
  • 5/5

    Best bank by far

    Great bank account, very good app and superb customer service

    {"display":"Kenneth M","full_name":"Kenneth M","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
  • 1/5

    Beware when using FD credit card!

    Beware when using FD credit card!!!!! They are unhelpful if you report a fraudulent transaction on their credit card. Reported a fraudulent transaction on my... Beware when using FD credit card!!!!! They are unhelpful if you report a fraudulent transaction on their credit card. Reported a fraudulent transaction on my FD credit card to the credit card given to me to fraud dept and customer services but was told they are not willing to take on it as fraud because they have concluded the payment was done from goggle pay registered to my phone. Also beware that freezing the card on the app does not entirely prevent transaction with the card. Read more Read less

    {"display":"Mak","full_name":"Mak","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Current Account
    Mak 18th March 2025
  • 5/5

    Top account, excellent cash incentive ve to switc...

    Brilliant account, excellent cash incentive to switch and was really easy to set up account. The App is really easy to use and fast. Also... Brilliant account, excellent cash incentive to switch and was really easy to set up account. The App is really easy to use and fast. Also offers a really good regular saver. Great bank and would recommend it. Read more Read less

    {"display":"Stuart S","full_name":"Stuart S","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Current Account
    Stuart S 16th March 2025
  • 5/5

    Brilliant regular saver - 7% and very flexible

    Brilliant regular saver - 7% APR which is great and option to save up to £300 per month with flexibility to change payments. So easy... Brilliant regular saver - 7% APR which is great and option to save up to £300 per month with flexibility to change payments. So easy to set up and use on the App, very straightforward. Wish I had done this sooner! Read more Read less

    {"display":"Stuart S","full_name":"Stuart S","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
  • 2/5

    I found very complicated paying the credit card.

    I found very complicated paying the credit card. I had a direct debit which failed, and doing a one off payment was not straight forward.

    {"display":"FP","full_name":"FP","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Credit Card
    FP 11th March 2025
  • 5/5

    Easy to switch and best bank account with good interest

    Easy to switch and best bank account with good interest

    {"display":"Hayley Elvin","full_name":"Hayley Elvin","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
  • 5/5

    Always available to help. Wouldn’t bank anywhere else.

    I always get to speak to a person when I call. Staff are always very helpful. I never have to wait on hold. I wouldn’t... I always get to speak to a person when I call. Staff are always very helpful. I never have to wait on hold. I wouldn’t bank with anyone else. Never had any issues whilst banking with First Direct and I’ve been with them for years. Read more Read less

    {"display":"Eleanor B","full_name":"Eleanor B","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
  • 5/5

    Excellent Bank

    Never had any problems whatsoever with this Bank, even when a person hacked my email and purchased items they noticed before myself and stopped the transaction.

    {"display":"Trevor P","full_name":"Trevor P","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar

    Products from first direct
    Showing products offered by first direct

    We are Smart Money People

    Join 2 million active users who make better financial decisions with the power of reviews.

    Create an account

    Protecting trust by verifying companies and reviewers

    The only site that specialises in financial services

    Providing everyday people with a voice