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first direct: Current Account reviews

4.69
Based on 1,336 reviews, last reviewed 9th Apr 2025
1700% increase in 5 star reviews
in the past 90 days
No new 1 star reviews
in the past 90 days
See only 5 star reviews
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1%
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3%

Latest highest rating:

5

First For direct suppport! 24/7 support ftom friendly, helpful people you can trust! Reviewed on: 9th April 2025
Lorna 's avatar
Lorna

Latest lowest rating:

1

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 transactio... Read more Reviewed on: 18th March 2025
Mak's avatar
Mak

About this product

The first direct 1st Account is a current account that can be opened in minutes.

If you’re eligible, you can get an interest free overdraft of £250. You won’t be charged debit card fees when spending abroad. If approved for an account, you’ll get a virtual card you can use straight away.

first direct 1st Account reviews help you find out what it’s really like to be a customer. If you’ve used first direct before, you can also leave a review and share your experience.

first direct Current Account reviews (1336)

Review of the first direct, Current Account:

Over time you'll tire of them

1
Looking at some reviews here from what I assume to be new customers perhaps they might feel less positive after a few years experiencing the attitude of this bank. Their adverts should display this bank as a dictatorial dinosaur. Banking here is based on what they consider is best for them not the customer, although their telephone staff do actually seem to accomplish what you call them about unless it is to complain. Products are less than ordinary; rates are generally awful but the most frustrating thing is their online system. Not only do you have this silly, tiny, turn itself off half the time before you manage to press the right button security device which you need to use to generate a code to do pretty ordinary things like just send a message to them, or even just apply for a new product - but I find the most annoying thing is when you have successfully set up a payee; tested it however you want to prove it works, they will go and delete it after a period of non-use without asking or telling you beforehand so you have to set it all up again with that awful security device as well as inputting all the bank details. They even delete payment links to other first direct accounts you hold the same way. Your email box will also get cleared down more quickly than you might expect, but they do not offer a download facility for you to click a button to save on your own storage any you want to keep. There have been instances where they have changed their products beyond all recognition of what you signed up for in the first place. Initially their cash ISA started off with tiered interest bands for different amounts saved which were at decent rates compared to others available, now they have no bands with a pitiful rate for any amount saved. Whilst being with them we have sent forms to them with more than the one form in the envelope; to ensure they were aware that the envelope contained multiple forms this was clearly boldly written on both sides of the envelope as well as inside the opening flap. They processed only the ONE form and were completely unable to locate the others sent, apologies were meagre; they hardly acknowledged their incompetence. They have a regular savings account that can only be funded from your 1st account but when you make out the online application you are given the drop down of all your accounts to select to fund it from, if you choose any other than the 1st account they did not flag this up as an error but let the processing go through to need to be subsequently amended, their systems could be designed to stop little things like this but it makes you question the degree of testing or understanding put in to their development. Bring any of these frustrating deficiencies to their attention and they don't want to know or do anything to improve matters for the benefit of their customers. They do not listen. Other banks and societies who actually consider customer needs are there; I recommend to use them rather than this lot. How they can consider the value their current account as worth £120 a year then dispense with your set-up payment details without even consulting or actively warning you is disgraceful. I've tried to bring up matters directly with them to improve things but they really do not want to know so maybe publicly showing people what they might be having to put up with could get this head in the sand attitude to change? Reviewed on: 15th December 2018

They’re a really strong and straightforward bank to...

5
They’re a really strong and straightforward bank to be with Reviewed on: 2nd April 2025

Exckude banks who try to bribe their customers

5
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? Reviewed on: 22nd March 2025

Never been let down by this bank.

5
Never been let down by this bank. app is easy to use, Reviewed on: 21st March 2025

Best bank by far

5
Great bank account, very good app and superb customer service Reviewed on: 18th March 2025

Beware when using FD credit card!

1
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. Reviewed on: 18th March 2025

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

5
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. Reviewed on: 16th March 2025

Easy to switch and best bank account with good interest

5
Easy to switch and best bank account with good interest Reviewed on: 11th March 2025

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

5
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. Reviewed on: 10th March 2025

Excellent Bank

5
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. Reviewed on: 7th March 2025

I had an awful experience with Santander and stuck w...

5
I had an awful experience with Santander and stuck with them best decision to switch FD excellent. Reviewed on: 7th March 2025

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