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first direct reviews

First Direct Logo
Rated Excellent • 4.71/5

first direct reviews

Verified business Last reviewed within 7 days
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  • 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 1,870 product reviews

Average score of 4.71/5
5 star
85%
4 star
9%
3 star
2%
2 star
1%
1 star
3%
Reviews for first direct have trended negatively over the past 90 days

First Direct nails it with brilliant customer service that’s always quick, friendly and easy to reach, making banking feel personal and hassle-free. Their app is straightforward and reliable, perfect for managing money on the go, while their regular saver account offers some of the best interest rates around. On the downside, some find the app a bit basic and limited compared to newer banks, with occasional glitches and restrictions like early cut-off times for payments. A few have also noticed a dip in service quality recently and wish the bank rewarded loyal customers better instead of focusing on switcher incentives.

Positive themes

  • First Direct’s customer service is quick, friendly and always easy to reach by phone or app.
  • The First Direct app is simple to use and reliable for everyday banking tasks.
  • First Direct’s regular saver account offers some of the best interest rates available.

Negative themes

  • The app lacks some modern features and can be glitchy or limited in functionality.
  • Customer service has declined recently with longer waits and less helpful staff.
  • Some customers faced issues with fraud handling and felt unsupported by First Direct.
Summarised by AI
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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 1870 company reviews • Last reviewed within 7 days

No decent savings options

Current Account • 18th April 2026

The only drawback with our current account is that they dont have any decent savings accounts/ products alongside it. I dont want the hassle of... The only drawback with our current account is that they dont have any decent savings accounts/ products alongside it. I dont want the hassle of using several different platforms. I wish FD offered something high interest on site Read more Read less

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

I've been with them since the 90s.

Current Account • 18th April 2026

I've been with them since the 90s. Easy to contact, reasonable saving schemes, pleasant customer service, good 500 pound free overdraft facility. Etc.

{"display":"nick99","full_name":"nick99","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
Rated Excellent • 5/5
Read more product reviews
  • 5/5

    No nonsense basic account, which has been around for...

    No nonsense basic account, which has been around for ages and still has a friendly call centre in Leeds where you can confirm just how... No nonsense basic account, which has been around for ages and still has a friendly call centre in Leeds where you can confirm just how daft you are and can't figure stuff out and will be treated with a smile and a 'don't worry Sir or madam this happens alot' reply. Read more Read less

    {"display":"Neil Gent","full_name":"Neil Gent","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
  • 4/5

    Online Banking boosted productivity

    Online Banking helped me to not only send bank transfer payments immediately and easily but also allow me to check my statements to cross reference... Online Banking helped me to not only send bank transfer payments immediately and easily but also allow me to check my statements to cross reference for disputes at any time all of which was needed sooner Read more Read less

    {"display":"MRSH","full_name":"MRSH","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Current Account
    MRSH 17th April 2026
  • 5/5

    Very smooth experience so far.

    Very smooth experience so far. No problems, and the one query I had was dealt with efficiently.

    {"display":"MadAd","full_name":"MadAd","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Current Account
    MadAd 17th April 2026
  • 5/5

    Always helpful on the phone.

    Always helpful on the phone. Resolves issues quickly. No issues.

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

    First Direct - first for customer service

    Excellent app; helpful human communication for enquiries and questions; gives a sense of integrity and honesty; offers a range of account options and proactively recommended... Excellent app; helpful human communication for enquiries and questions; gives a sense of integrity and honesty; offers a range of account options and proactively recommended moving excess cash out of a current account. Read more Read less

    {"display":"Jba","full_name":"Jba","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Current Account
    Jba 17th April 2026
  • 4/5

    good english speakers easy to understand

    good english speakers easy to understand

    {"display":"J B","full_name":"J B","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Current Account
    J B 17th April 2026
  • 4/5

    Good solid banking app with no issues.

    Good solid banking app with no issues.

    {"display":"RevNix","full_name":"RevNix","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Current Account
    RevNix 17th April 2026
  • 5/5

    Their customer service app and ease of use is brilli...

    Their customer service app and ease of use is brilliant and offer a range of generous products

    {"display":"Charlie","full_name":"Charlie","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Personal Loan
    Charlie 17th April 2026
  • 5/5

    Top class service when I was scammed

    When we were scammed out of £80 from a company in Hong Kong i I phoned First Direct and they put me through to the... When we were scammed out of £80 from a company in Hong Kong i I phoned First Direct and they put me through to the fraud department straight away and refunded myself the money . Very nice and profesional and informative . When you phone them you are generally not waiting in a queue for long and speak to someone in an English call centre Read more Read less

    {"display":"steven smith","full_name":"steven smith","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/uploads\/avatars\/users\/732963.png"}}'s avatar

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