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first direct: Current Account reviews

4.73
Based on 1,489 reviews, last reviewed 8th May 2026
20% increase in 5 star reviews
in the past 90 days
100% increase in 1 star reviews
in the past 90 days
See only 5 star reviews
85%
See only 4 star reviews
9%
See only 3 star reviews
2%
See only 2 star reviews
1%
See only 1 star reviews
3%

Latest highest rating:

5

I’ve had a really positive experience with First Dir... I’ve had a really positive experience with First Direct’s 1st Account. The account is simple to manage, with an easy-to-use app, reliable online banki... Read more Reviewed on: 5th May 2026
Phil A's avatar
Phil A

Latest lowest rating:

1

1 star is far too generous. 1 star is far too generous. First Direct sent an email asking me to provide another review even though i have been waiting for a working PIN since Fe... Read more Reviewed on: 8th May 2026
Linda's avatar
Linda

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.

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first direct Current Account reviews (1489)

best phone operatives ever

5
great access across lots of banking platforms. Easy to navigate between different areas on the site. High level of security for on-line option. Friendliest most efficient call-centre ever. Reviewed on: 28th April 2020

Excellent customer service

5
Very good customer service 24 hours a day. Easy to move money around and check account with excellent ap. Reviewed on: 27th April 2020

easy to use

4
i find their online banking very easy to use and means in dont have to contact them very often Reviewed on: 27th April 2020

Fantastic

5
Amazing customer service, can always get through promptly if theres a problem. So glad I switched Reviewed on: 27th April 2020

First Direct Brilliant

5
First class service. easy to use account. Can always speak to a person quickly if needed. Reviewed on: 27th April 2020

Always there

5
In an age when customer service seems to be getting brushed under the carpet by most companies First Direct still stands out as the yardstick by which others should measure themselves. Every time you ring them they are always prompt to answer, pleasant to talk to and helpful. Even when your query is not relevant to their department they always know where to transfer you to immediately whereas my experience with other companies is usually one of the operative struggling blindly to know who deals with the query or blithely transferring to a department that invariably turns out to be the wrong one. So well done First Direct. Reviewed on: 27th April 2020

Not for small business owners

1
Was recommended to move to First Direct but it's been a really poor experience. it took 6 weeks to get a letter from them and, as a small business owner, they demanded to see the full and signed copies of the last three years' accounts. We're in the middle of the Covid-19 crisis so that demand was not only over the top but a really big ask - I can only assume they thought I'm skint as I run a small business. If you are a business owner / director avoid. Reviewed on: 22nd April 2020

Dreadful!

1
Their new security processes are a complete nightmare to use. Even if you can navigate your way through the complex process of transferring funds from one account to another, they WILL stop the transfer and not inform you. Just spent the last 40 minutes trying to get a payment sent and this is the second time this week. Enough is enough! Reviewed on: 27th February 2020

No help in time of crisis

1
I was recently the victim of a scam in which I made a number of card payments and bank transfers totalling some £15,000 to a rogue company without getting anything in return. First Direct is signed up to an inter-bank code of practice for protecting and compensating victims of fraud which “includes detecting high-risk payments, identifying vulnerable customers, and delaying or freezing payments that might be part of a scam . . . the bank will be required to refund the customer’s losses from a communal fund, even if it did nothing wrong”. Despite being a customer for some 30 years, First Direct refused to give me any compensation, under either the Visa card guarantee or the code of practice and did nothing, either under the code or otherwise, to mitigate my losses. I am now having to complain to the Financial Ombudsman. It’s said that in times of crisis you find out who your friends are, and First Direct has proved to be no friend of mine! I can therefore no longer recommend First Direct to potential new customers - you would be better going to other banks which (like TSB, for example) have more comprehensive fraud protection policies anyway. Reviewed on: 24th February 2020

First Direct Secure Key Not Customer Freindly

2
First direct has implemented their latest level of security, it is non customer friendly difficult to navigate, too many items to enter and having to carry the secure key device everywhere is inconvenient to say the least, they suggest using smart phone app, not everyone has a smart phone and easy to make mistakes, Real Shame brilliant Bank ruined in a single move Reviewed on: 22nd February 2020

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