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first direct reviews

First Direct Logo
Rated Excellent • 4.69/5

first direct reviews

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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 1,774 product reviews

Average score of 4.69/5
5 star
84%
4 star
9%
3 star
2%
2 star
1%
1 star
4%
Reviews for first direct have trended positively 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 1774 company reviews • Last reviewed within 7 days

Keeping me in check!

Fixed Rate Savings • 3rd February 2026

Great that I can stick in £300 a month and not being able to touch it, then getting my interest at the end of the... Great that I can stick in £300 a month and not being able to touch it, then getting my interest at the end of the 12 months and being apply to apply to have the exact ssame account again! Been doing me well for the last few years now and keeps me on track financially. Read more Read less

{"display":"Yasmin G","full_name":"Yasmin G","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
Rated Excellent • 5/5
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Compentent..

Current Account • 2nd February 2026

Very good overall, I have been very impressive with them as a bank and have been with them since they first started.

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

    Always available to help when needed.

    Always available to help when needed. And no hanging about waiting either.

    {"display":"Terry H","full_name":"Terry H","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Current Account
    Terry H 29th January 2026
  • 5/5

    Quick, easy and offering a good return

    Taking out a regular savings account is quick and easy. The return is over market rates.

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

    30 years on.......

    Have banked with first direct for over 30 years and I am still getting excellent service if I ever have a problem. Recently had an... Have banked with first direct for over 30 years and I am still getting excellent service if I ever have a problem. Recently had an issue with an on line payment, phoned the bank, put through to the relevant team and issue sorted in 15 minutes. Professional, polite, friendly experience - thank you! Read more Read less

    {"display":"Kurt M","full_name":"Kurt M","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Current Account
    Kurt M 27th January 2026
  • 5/5

    Positive experience

    Positive experience for years, always helpful customer service

    {"display":"Monica","full_name":"Monica","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Current Account
    Monica 26th January 2026
  • 5/5

    Good customer service is the sine qua non

    Good customer service is the sine qua non

    {"display":"Adam P","full_name":"Adam P","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Current Account
    Adam P 26th January 2026
  • 5/5

    Easy to use app, 24/7 customer service avail...

    Easy to use app and excellent customer service available at any time of the day

    {"display":"Bryan","full_name":"Bryan","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Current Account
    Bryan 25th January 2026
  • 5/5

    So easy to manage and great customer service.

    So easy to manage and great customer service.

    {"display":"Raj","full_name":"Raj","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Current Account
    Raj 25th January 2026
  • 5/5

    It is easy to open and operate a First Direct account

    It is easy to open and operate an account online. First Direct operates via an App which is well laid out and allows access to... It is easy to open and operate an account online. First Direct operates via an App which is well laid out and allows access to all aspects of my current account. Notifications of money movement is very useful to keep track of transactions. Read more Read less

    {"display":"Anthony L","full_name":"Anthony L","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Current Account
    Anthony L 25th January 2026
  • 5/5

    Easy to use features and app.

    Easy to use features and app. Only issue I ever had to report to customer services was quickly resolved.

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

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