For those that are with TSB like me this is not a bad deal!
First Direct* has yet again boosted its switching offer from £100 for new customers applying via our link to £125 (£100 direct). First Direct is one of our top picks due to its excellent customer service – it's won every bank service poll we've ever done, with 90% of its customers rating it 'great'. You also get a small £250 0% overdraft, and can open a linked 5% regular saver.
Need-to-knows
To get the £125 switching bonus, you need to use First Direct's switching service to fully switch and close your existing account and pay in at least £1,000 within three months of your account opening.
Once you've made the payment, the £125 will be credited to your account within 28 working days.
If you have any problems with the switching process, you can contact First Direct's account opening team on 0800 24 24 24.
This account has a £10 monthly fee after six months, but this is waived each month you pay in £1,000, have an average monthly balance of £1,000 or hold selected other accounts with First Direct.
You can't get the switching bonus if you've ever held an account with First Direct before.
First Direct shares its £85,000 UK savings safety guarantee with HSBC, so ensure you don't hold more than £85,000 across the two banks.
Loyalty doesn't pay so existing tsb can switch to this and then switch back to the tsb to bag the deal again at a later date.
If you're not happy you'll get £100
Rated best for customer service
Top comments
Mogolent
16 May 177#1
Best customer service - maybe. But worst bank! Their mobile banking app and internet banking is a joke... 19 century bank...
taker
16 May 173#9
Agree First Direct and HSBC have the worst mobile banking app. It's ridiculous, reading the reviews on the App Store for the HSBC app you'd think they pushed their own staff to download it and rate it as 5 stars.
Can't do proper banking without going on their desktop site.
Good deal though.
All comments (77)
Mogolent
16 May 177#1
Best customer service - maybe. But worst bank! Their mobile banking app and internet banking is a joke... 19 century bank...
eslick to Mogolent
16 May 171#2
Don't know what you are comparing it to but against co-op, tsb, and nationwide it's a thousands times better. True the token is hard work but that's security for you we are luck have one lit of accounts with out it.
Maybe you haven't realised what century we are in they could only wish for still looking forward to so many things and bet they couldn't of ever hoped that most people would have bank accounts never mind ones you go on magic tablets to use :smiley:
karlie88 to Mogolent
16 May 171#3
I find their app fine. Easy log in process, can carry out transfers/payments ok, does everything I want. Great rate on their regular saver too. Their rates for the regular saver have always been very good.
haggisheid to Mogolent
16 May 17#18
I agree fully, I left Barclays, which has a great app to first direct and couldn't believe how bad their mobile app is, considering that many now use banking apps daily, it should be one of their priorities to make it practical and fast.
But yes, their customer service is fantastic, cannot say anything against that.
duncancosgrove to Mogolent
17 May 171#20
i agree. app is not great, especially compared to NatWest. for an online/Tel only bank I would expect better, but it's pretty much a reskinned version of the HSBC app so doubt it'll change until that one does.
telephone customer service is outstanding though. not many banks you can call up and be greeted by a human within 3 rings.
ChrisPalmer to Mogolent
17 May 17#31
Do you have much experience of 19th Century banking?
hairray to Mogolent
17 May 17#35
Sorry to hear that, although my experience has been the opposite. Ive banked with Barclays and Santander, I find the app more than useful, it is basic but that's what I want. I also found paying new people a lot easier than other banks. The telephone service IMO was also very good, someone answered the phone instantly and the same advisor set up my 5% saver.
I think their simplicity in banking with them is reflected by the branding, straight to the point and no nonsense.
Hope you've found a bank that suits your needs better.
heeljames to Mogolent
17 May 17#57
All I'm going to say is this.
Around 6-8 moths ago I had some card fraud on my curren account with First Direct. Somebody was charging Uber rides to my card, around £200 in total. I noticed this at around 11am on a Saturday. Literally 15 minutes on the phone with them and they'd cancelled all charges, refunded all the money that had already left and were monitoring my account for future activity like that. That 15 mins is including the time spent on hold too btw, which was around 45 seconds. Having spent close to 1 hour waiting for HSBC to answer their phone lines, I'll happily vouch for First Direct any day.
bigwheels
16 May 17#4
Joined them 15 Plus years ago. Would never leave.
chrisc151
16 May 17#5
I have tried to sign up to First Direct a few times with these sign up offers.. I get rejected every time..:disappointed:
Hotmeal
16 May 171#6
Have to agree the app is crap when compared to say Barclays or Santander but the app isn't everything. Customer service is excellent. Would recommend.
Uns
16 May 17#7
All the complaints about the app put me off but actually I've found it just fine (it's not as polished as Santander/Barclays but it does the job and it's almost identical to HSBC as it's part of the same bank).
I really can't fault first direct. They give you £100 if you leave within 6 months, but I haven't left them even for that. The customer service is outstanding, every time I've needed to speak to them I've got through to a perfect english speaker within seconds. The regular saver gives 5% and you can put in £300 a month which is a nice saver as well.
Anon32 to Uns
16 May 171#8
I'm seriously considering this! TSB have been great but i'm not having my interest cut for them to offer new customer only deals while screwing their existing base! I can then go back and bag their £130 when it comes around next time!
The only thing that concerns me is the credit score! Credit companies don't like regulary changing bank accounts as it raises the not so stable trying to hide something thing.
taker
16 May 173#9
Agree First Direct and HSBC have the worst mobile banking app. It's ridiculous, reading the reviews on the App Store for the HSBC app you'd think they pushed their own staff to download it and rate it as 5 stars.
Can't do proper banking without going on their desktop site.
Good deal though.
B4rT45 to taker
19 May 17#75
I suppose none of you have tried M&S bank?
and that includes not only the app but also the internet banking!
soops
16 May 17#10
Best bank, bar none!
whelan189
16 May 172#11
anyone joining beware there is like 100 different password you will need to remember and will mix them up and be a pain in the ass to access money
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Opening post
First Direct* has yet again boosted its switching offer from £100 for new customers applying via our link to £125 (£100 direct). First Direct is one of our top picks due to its excellent customer service – it's won every bank service poll we've ever done, with 90% of its customers rating it 'great'. You also get a small £250 0% overdraft, and can open a linked 5% regular saver.
Need-to-knows
To get the £125 switching bonus, you need to use First Direct's switching service to fully switch and close your existing account and pay in at least £1,000 within three months of your account opening.
Once you've made the payment, the £125 will be credited to your account within 28 working days.
If you have any problems with the switching process, you can contact First Direct's account opening team on 0800 24 24 24.
This account has a £10 monthly fee after six months, but this is waived each month you pay in £1,000, have an average monthly balance of £1,000 or hold selected other accounts with First Direct.
You can't get the switching bonus if you've ever held an account with First Direct before.
First Direct shares its £85,000 UK savings safety guarantee with HSBC, so ensure you don't hold more than £85,000 across the two banks.
Loyalty doesn't pay so existing tsb can switch to this and then switch back to the tsb to bag the deal again at a later date.
If you're not happy you'll get £100
Rated best for customer service
Top comments
Can't do proper banking without going on their desktop site.
Good deal though.
All comments (77)
Maybe you haven't realised what century we are in they could only wish for still looking forward to so many things and bet they couldn't of ever hoped that most people would have bank accounts never mind ones you go on magic tablets to use :smiley:
But yes, their customer service is fantastic, cannot say anything against that.
telephone customer service is outstanding though. not many banks you can call up and be greeted by a human within 3 rings.
I think their simplicity in banking with them is reflected by the branding, straight to the point and no nonsense.
Hope you've found a bank that suits your needs better.
Around 6-8 moths ago I had some card fraud on my curren account with First Direct. Somebody was charging Uber rides to my card, around £200 in total. I noticed this at around 11am on a Saturday. Literally 15 minutes on the phone with them and they'd cancelled all charges, refunded all the money that had already left and were monitoring my account for future activity like that. That 15 mins is including the time spent on hold too btw, which was around 45 seconds. Having spent close to 1 hour waiting for HSBC to answer their phone lines, I'll happily vouch for First Direct any day.
I really can't fault first direct. They give you £100 if you leave within 6 months, but I haven't left them even for that. The customer service is outstanding, every time I've needed to speak to them I've got through to a perfect english speaker within seconds. The regular saver gives 5% and you can put in £300 a month which is a nice saver as well.
The only thing that concerns me is the credit score! Credit companies don't like regulary changing bank accounts as it raises the not so stable trying to hide something thing.
Can't do proper banking without going on their desktop site.
Good deal though.
and that includes not only the app but also the internet banking!