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Banking & Saving First Direct Bank Accounts

Compare First Direct Bank Accounts

Compare First Direct Bank Accounts – read our review and compare the features and benefits available from First Direct. Make an informed decision to find a Bank Account that suits you.

First Direct Bank Accounts Review

First direct offer a range of savings account via the internet, telephone or free Text Message Banking, helping you to manage your money any time of the day or night.

With impressive interest rates and attractive bonuses for switching accounts, First direct savings accounts can help you to achieve your saving goals.

First Direct guarantee that should you need to contact them, you will be put through to a person rather than a recorded message via one of their contact centres, allowing you to solve any issues with ease.

First direct is covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) established under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, so all deposits up to £50,000 per person (£100,000 per joint account) are protected, so you can be confident that your savings are safe.
Provider Account AER Min Bal O/D Rate O/D Buffer Apply
Get 5.0% AER on all balances up to £2,500. You need to be 21 & pay in £500+ p.m
5%
£1
0%
for 12 mths
£2,000
0% overdraft facility for 4 months & 5% AER on your first £2,500 for 12 months
5%
£1
0%
for 4 mths
£5,000
£5,000 0% overdraft facility for 12 months. You need to be 18 & pay in £1000+ p.m
0.10%
£1
0%
for 12 mths
£5,000
Earn 2.50% AER when you pay in at least £1,000 per month into your current account.
2.50%
£1
No Offer
No Offer
Earn up to 4.00% AER / 3.93% Gross on balances up to £7,000
4%
£1
No Offer
No Offer
  • 5.0% Annual Earnings Rate on balances up to £2,500
  • **(5.0% is fixed for 1 year)**
  • 0.1% AER (variable) on balances over £2,500
  • £2,000 0% overdraft facility for 12 months from account opening, then 50p a day (up to £5 a month) if agreed by Alliance and Leicester.
  • You have to pay at least £500 per month into your current account
  • You must be over the age of 21
  • Earn 5% AER on balances up to £2,500 for 12 months
  • After 12 months you will earn 1.0% AER on any balance on the account
  • 0% EAR on Overdrafts for the first 4 months (up to £5,000 depending on your circumstances), after this it will revert to 19.9%EAR
  • Manage your day-to-day money for free with no monthly account fee, no transaction charges and no charges for using account facilities - as long as you remain in credit
  • Get a cheque book and a Visa Debit card. You can use your Visa Debit card in shops wherever you see the Visa symbol and at virtually every cash machine in the UK and many worldwide. It also acts as a £100 cheque guarantee card
  • Access to your money 24 hours a day 7 days a week through our e-banking service, 750+ branches, 24-hour telephone banking service, LINK cash machine network or even by post
  • At least £1,000 a month must be credited to get 5% AER on balances up to £2,500
  • If not switching earn 6% AER on balances up to £1,000 for 12 months if £1,000 is credited each month
  • 0% overdraft for 12 months
  • After 12 months you will pay an Advance Overdraft rate of only 12.9% EAR
  • When switching, Abbey will offer to match your previous overdraft up to £5,000. *Conditions apply*
  • Earn 0.1% AER on any balance on the account
  • Get a cheque book and a Visa Debit card. You can use your Visa Debit card in shops wherever you see the Visa symbol and at virtually every cash machine in the UK and many worldwide. It also acts as a £100 cheque guarantee card
  • Access to your money 24 hours a day 7 days a week through our e-banking service, 750+ branches, 24-hour telephone banking service, LINK cash machine network or even by post
  • At least £1,000 a month must be credited to benefit from this offer
  • 2.5% AER / 2.47% Gross (variable) on balances up to £2,500, when you pay in at least £1,000 per month into your current account.
  • 0.1% AER / Gross (variable) on balances over £2,500.
  • Free banking – no charge for everyday transactions when you’re in credit.
  • Access to one of the biggest banking networks in the UK with over 1,900 branches and 32,000 LINK cash machines.
  • A VISA debit card you can use in over 500,000 places in the UK and 18 million outlets worldwide.
  • Commission-free foreign currency and non-sterling American Express Travellers Cheques.
  • Utilise the speed and control of Internet Banking, if you are registered.
  • You can call PhoneBank ® (based in UK) to speak to our advisors or use our quick automated service, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • "Interest paid monthly. AER (Annual Equivalent Rate) – the rate if interest was paid and compounded once a year. Gross rate is the contractual rate of interest payable before the deduction of income tax at the rate specified by law. PhoneBank® is a registered trademark of Lloyds TSB Bank plc."
  • Earn up to 4.00% AER / 3.93% Gross variable on balances up to £7000 when you pay in £1,000 per month.
    • 4.00% AER (3.93% Gross) on balances £5,000 up to £7,000
    • 3.00% AER (2.96% Gross) on balances between £3,000 and £4,999
    • 2.00% AER (1.98% Gross) on balances between £1,000 and £2,999
    • 0.10% AER / Gross on balances upto £1,000 or over £7,000
  • Free banking - no charge for everyday transactions when you're in credit
  • Visa Debit card with access to 1,800 UK Branches and 58,000 LINK cash machines, use in over 500,000 outlets in the UK, 27 million worldwide
  • Commission-free foreign currency and non-sterling American Express Travellers Cheques
  • Utilise the speed and control of Internet Banking, if you are registered
  • Call a UK call centre to speak to our advisors or use a quick automated service, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • Interest rates are correct as at 02/02/09
AER (Annual Equivalent Rate) – the rate if interest was paid and compounded once a year. Gross rate is the contractual rate of interest payable before the deduction of income tax at the rate specified by law.
PhoneBank® is a registered trademark of Lloyds TSB Bank plc.
Account opening is subject to our assessment of your circumstances; you must be 18 or over to apply.
  • Free day-to-day banking without subscription charges
  • Overdraft available subject to eligibility, giving your finances some breathing space
  • Chequebook available subject to eligibility; handy when cash or cards aren't convenient
  • Monthly statements with all your transactions and your balance - by post or online. Or pick up a mini-statement from our cash machines
  • A carbon neutral debit card (subject to status).
  • Online Banking – do your banking from home (subject to registration).
  • Telephone Banking – pay bills and more (subject to registration).
  • A network of over 1,700 branches.
  • Draw on cheques paid in before they clear (subject to status and limit).
  • An overdraft: 19.3% EAR typical variable*. Subject to status and application. Overdrafts are repayable on demand.
  • Barclays £2,500 Overdraft Reserve Option:
  • - One Reserve Usage Fee of £22 for each five consecutive working day period from the day you start using your Reserve.
  • - No interest payments on your Reserve balance. 0% EAR typical.
  • - The Reserve is repayable on demand. The maximum Reserve is £2500, subject to status.
  • - One Returned Transaction Fee of £8 for each returned transaction where you exceed your Reserve.
  • - One Guaranteed Transaction Fee of £8 for each guaranteed payment made where you exceed your Reserve.
  • Halifax will give you £5 each month you pay in £1,000, whether you're in credit or overdrawn.
  • This account offers a flexible 0% Overdraft facility:
  • - £1 per day - if you use an 'Arranged' overdraft up to and including £2,500
  • - £2 per day - if you use an 'Arranged' overdraft up to and including £2,500
  • - £5 per day - if you use an 'Un-Arranged' overdraft
  • A Halifax Visa debit card
  • Access to the extensive branch Network
  • 24/7 Online Banking Access
  • BOS will give you £5 each month you pay in £1,000, whether you're in credit or overdrawn.
  • This account offers a flexible 0% Overdraft facility:
  • - £1 per day - if you use an 'Arranged' overdraft up to and including £2,500
  • - £2 per day - if you use an 'Arranged' overdraft up to and including £2,500
  • - £5 per day - if you use an 'Un-Arranged' overdraft
  • A Bank of Scotland Visa debit card
  • Access to the extensive branch Network
  • 24/7 Online Banking Access
  • YOU NEED TO PAY £12.50 PER MONTH FOR THIS ACCOUNT
  • **Customers will now be able to get the first three months at only £6 per month (instead of £12.50)**
  • How to get 10% AER on your savings with this account...
  • Step 1: Open your HSBC Plus Account and agree to pay £12.50 per month for at least 12 months.
  • Step 2: Open a joint Regular Saver Account (as a Plus Customer you will be given a higher interest rate of 10% rather than 8%)
  • Step 3: You can move between £25 - £250 per month from Plus Account to the Regular Saver Account
  • Step 4: If you invest £250 per month, a total of £3,000 will be paid into your account during the 12 month term. At 10% interest, you will earn approximately £163 interest (gross).
  • WARNING: Partial withdrawals are not permitted from a Regular Saver Account. If you decide to close your account before the first anniversary HSBC Flexible Saver rate will apply (Currently 0.10% AER).
  • Overdraft facility at 17.9% EAR variable is available, however this is on a case-by-case basis.
  • Fee free cash withdrawals worldwide
  • Worldwide family travel insurance (inc. winter sports cover - up to aged 70) - Worth £180 per year!
  • ID Theft Assistance- £80 per year
  • Life Cover - £43 per year
  • Roadside Breakdown Assistance - £92 per year - Price based on RAC Solution 1 cover before any discounts.
  • YOU MUST BE 18+ & PAY AT LEAST £500 PER MONTH INTO THIS ACCOUNT
  • HSBC
  • Automatically transfer your Direct Debits and standing orders to your new account
  • New cheque book & Debit Card within a week of you opening your account...or HSBC give you £10
  • Enjoy a 0% overdraft for two months, while HSBC transfer your account After this time the overdraft rate will be 19.9% EAR variable
  • Make the most of your savings with a linked HSBC Regular Saver Account
  • Sleep easy knowing you're supported by Identity Theft Assistance, which includes one free online credit report per year
  • If you're on the move, keep tabs on your balance and transactions with Monilink Mobile Banking
  • Manage your money with free 24/7 Internet Banking*, pay bills and make payments securely.
  • Telephone and branch banking are also available
  • Free HSBC Bank Debit Card to pay for goods and services at home and abroad**
  • Get up to £50 cashback at various UK outlets when you pay with your free HSBC Bank Debit Card
  • Monthly statements (or Go Green to save paper and view your statements online)
  • Free everyday banking - no monthly subscription charges.
  • No arrangement or renewal fees - on overdrafts up to £15,000. And pay no interest on agreed overdrafts of up to £100.
  • Save on your mortgage - use your Interest Paying Current Account balance to save money with our Offset Service.
  • Easy access to your money - your debit card gives you access to almost every cash machine in the UK. You can also pay for goods and services wherever you see the logo shown on your card.
  • Online banking - manage your money 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with our telephone and internet banking services. (Except for short periods of essential maintenance.)
  • Overseas money - get money in local currency at cash machines and buy goods wherever you see the logo shown on your card.
  • Statements - monthly statements list all transactions and your current balance. You can also get mini-statements from any cash machine.
  • Earn interest - we pay interest on your account; it's calculated daily and credited once every month.
  • CardOneBanking offers the following:
  • Guaranteed Acceptance
  • Sortcode & Account Number
  • Prepaid MasterCard card
  • 24 hour account management by Phone, Text and Online Banking
  • Dedicated Account Manager
  • NO OVERDRAFT FACILITY – No risk of going overdrawn
  • NO EXTRA CHARGES – No charges for bounced standing orders
  • NO CREDIT CHECKS! – Guaranteed to be accepted, regardless of your past credit
  • YOU must be 18+ and UK resident
  • £30 account opening fee and £12.50 monthly management fee

First Direct News

First Direct introduce fee's for their Current Account
In what may mark the beginning of the end for free banking as we know it, online bank, first direct, is writing to all its customers over the next month to tell them about changes to ...
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Wed 15th Nov, 2006