First Direct

First Direct was founded in 1989 by Midland Bank, whose own name is no longer in use following its acquisition by HSBC in 1992. The First Direct brand lived on with its own name and reputation.

First Direct has no high street branches of its own, relying instead on internet and phone services. But as First Direct is owned by HSBC, customers are able to use the HSBC branch network.

It offers a variety of products such as bank accounts, mortgages, loans and credit cards, savings and investment accounts, as well as life, home and travel insurance.

Their headquarters are based in Leeds, UK.

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Bank accounts

Ranked 2^nd of 34 providers reviewed.

Customer happiness	82%
Customer trust	72%
Complaints performance	72%
Transparency rating	55%
Fairer Finance score Reviewed Autumn 2019	70%

Credit cards

Ranked 1^st of 32 providers reviewed.

Customer happiness	75%
Customer trust	75%
Complaints performance	74%
Transparency rating	51%
Fairer Finance score Reviewed Autumn 2019	69%

Home insurance (building and contents)

Ranked 36^th of 49 providers reviewed.

Customer happiness	50%
Customer trust	48%
Complaints performance	70%
Transparency rating	52%
Fairer Finance score Reviewed Autumn 2019	55%

Mortgages

Ranked 3^rd of 21 providers reviewed.

Customer happiness	72%
Customer trust	67%
Complaints performance	75%
Transparency rating	55%
Fairer Finance score Reviewed Autumn 2019	67%

Personal loans

Ranked 5^th of 29 providers reviewed.

Customer happiness	77%
Customer trust	71%
Complaints performance	74%
Transparency rating	35%
Fairer Finance score Reviewed Autumn 2019	64%

Savings accounts

Ranked 12^th of 46 providers reviewed.

Customer happiness	67%
Customer trust	69%
Complaints performance	74%
Transparency rating	48%
Fairer Finance score Reviewed Autumn 2019	64%

Travel insurance

Ranked 6^th of 65 providers reviewed.

Customer happiness	68%
Customer trust	64%
Complaints performance	70%
Transparency rating	38%
Fairer Finance score Reviewed Autumn 2019	60%

Faster Payment limit i	£50,000
Maximum cash machine withdrawal per day i	£500
Part of FSCS i
Cash withdrawal fee in UK (own bank) i	£0
Card payment fee (£) i	£0
App capability? i

Foreign cash withdrawal fee i	2.75%
Foreign cash withdrawal additional charge i	0.00%
Foreign purchases fee i	2.75%
Is there a limit on free cash withdrawals? i

Estimated amount of money customers get back (minus annual fee) i	£271.54
Maximum cash daily withdrawal ATM (domestic) i	£500
Part of FSCS or international equivalent i

Duration of balance transfer offer period i	27 months
Balance transfer fee during promotional period i	2.29%
Representative APR i	18.90%
Risk based? i
Balance transfer rate during promotional period i	0%
Representative balance transfer rate i	1.46%

Duration of purchases offer period i	17 months
Representative APR i	16.90%
Highest APR i	16.90%
Risk based? i
Purchase rate during promotional period i	0%
Representative purchase rate i	1.32%
Number of days before interest is charged on purchases i	56 days

Representative APR i	18.90%
Foreign purchase fee i	2.99%
Foreign withdrawal fee i	2.99%
Risk based? i
Number of days before interest is charged on non-sterling cash transactions i	0 days
Representative purchase rate i	1.46%

Representative APR i	16.90%
Representative cash transaction interest rate i	1.81%
Representative purchase rate i	1.32%
Risk based? i
Representative balance transfer rate i	1.32%
Representative money transfer rate i

Escape of water excess i	£50
Matching sets i
Theft from outbuildings cover limit i	£3,000
24hr helpline i
Alternative accommodation cover limit i	£80,000
Cover for keys if lost i	£1,000
Money in the home i	£750
Replace belongings new for old i

Finding & repairing a leak cover limit i	£5,000
Matching sets i
Cover for keys if lost i	£1,000
Compulsory excess i	£50
Escape of water excess i	£50
Alternative accommodation cover limit i	£80,000
Cover for keys if stolen i	£1,000
Property owner liability i	£2,000,000
24hr helpline i

Medical excess i	£50
Cancelling before travel cover limit i	£5,000
Personal Possessions and Baggage - damaged, lost or stolen- cover limit i	£1,500
Max trip duration i	31 days
Emergency medical cover and repatriation cover limit i	£10,000,000
Cutting trip short cover limit i	£5,000
Abandoning your trip cover limit i	£5,000
Lost or stolen cash i	£300
Combined passport & travel cover limit i	£750
Natural disaster relocation cover i
Natural disaster baggage cover i
Mental health cover i

Ski equipment owned cover limit i	£500
Single owned item cover limit i	£500
Cover limit for hire of ski equipment due to loss/damage/delay to own equipment i	£200
Ski equipment owned excess i	£50
Ski equipment hired i	£400
Single item limit for hired equipment i	£400
Avalanche closure cover limit i	£200
Piste closure cover limit i	£300
Unused ski pass due to illness or injury i	£300

First Direct

Bank accounts

Current accounts

Foreign use bank accounts

Premium bank accounts

Credit cards

0% balance transfer credit cards

0% purchase credit cards

Foreign use credit cards

Low rate credit cards

Home insurance (building and contents)

Buildings insurance

Contents insurance

Travel insurance

Annual multi-trip insurance

Single trip insurance

Travel insurance add-on: winter sports

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