first direct Current Accounts

First Direct was set up as a bank in 1997 and is known for providing telephone and online banking services to consumers. It offers services such as bank accounts, mortgages, loans and savings, as well as insurance. It is a division of the HSBC Group.

The 1st Account from First Direct offers a range of banking services for its account holders, including the ability to pay into their account in Post Offices or in HSBC branches. They can also apply to use an overdraft with their account.

First Direct says that anyone who has a UK address and is over 18 can get a 1st Account providing they have not been declared bankrupt or signed up to an Individual Voluntary Agreement over the past six years.

You can apply online or over the telephone. You will need to provide documents to support your application including forms of identification and proof of address, such as a passport and a utility bill. The bank may also want to verify your credit rating and your financial income and outgoing, as well as your employment status.

Yes, you are able to do this easily through the Current Account Switch Guarantee service, which removed much of the legwork from switching accounts.

Yes, First Direct offers account holders the chance to manage their account through their mobile app. It also carries Apple Pay and Google Pay features, as well as contactless payments when using the debit card.

You are able to pay an extra monthly fee for additional features and insurance products added to your account, such as travel insurance and mobile phone cover. Other extras include things like breakdown cover. It is sensible to think carefully about whether the additional fee for these benefits is less than they would cost you to arrange independently. This is particularly true if you have already paid for separate breakdown cover, for example.