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 3^rd of 28 providers reviewed.

Customer happiness	81.34%
Customer trust	73.03%
Complaints performance	56.42%
Transparency rating	86.15%
Fairer Finance score Reviewed Autumn 2022	74%

Credit cards

Ranked 9^th of 31 providers reviewed.

Customer happiness	72.27%
Customer trust	72.74%
Complaints performance	56.42%
Transparency rating	54.03%
Fairer Finance score Reviewed Autumn 2022	64%

Home insurance (building and contents)

Ranked 38^th of 48 providers reviewed.

Customer happiness	53.91%
Customer trust	52.17%
Complaints performance	74.08%
Transparency rating	64.78%
Fairer Finance score Reviewed Autumn 2022	61%

Mortgages

Ranked 6^th of 23 providers reviewed.

Customer happiness	72.8%
Customer trust	67%
Complaints performance	78.48%
Transparency rating	53.44%
Fairer Finance score Reviewed Autumn 2022	68%

Personal loans

Ranked 3^rd of 26 providers reviewed.

Customer happiness	78.44%
Customer trust	75.63%
Complaints performance	56.42%
Transparency rating	69.5%
Fairer Finance score Reviewed Autumn 2022	70%

Savings Accounts

Ranked 15^th of 50 providers reviewed.

Customer happiness	62.02%
Customer trust	72.6%
Complaints performance	56.42%
Transparency rating	80.2%
Fairer Finance score Reviewed Autumn 2022	68%

Annual fee i	£0.00
Maximum cash machine withdrawal per day i	£500.00
Part of FSCS i
Cash withdrawal fee in UK (own bank) i	£0.00
Card payment fee (£) i	£0.00
App capability? i

Foreign cash withdrawal fee i	2.75%
Foreign cash withdrawal additional charge i	2% (Minimum £1.75, Maximum £5)
Foreign purchases fee i	2.75%
Is there a limit on free cash withdrawals? i	No free cash withdrawals

Risk based overdraft? i
Arranged overdraft interest free amount i	£250.00
Arranged overdraft interest rate (representative EAR) i	39.9%

Duration of 0% balance transfer offer period i	27 months
Balance transfer fee during promotional period i	2.29%
Representative APR i	18.9%
Balance transfer rate during promotional period i	0%
Highest balance transfer fee during promotional period (%) i	2.29%
Representative balance transfer rate i	1.456%
Risk based? i

Duration of purchases offer period i	17 months
Representative APR i	16.9%
Highest APR i	16.9%
Purchase rate during promotional period i	0%
Representative purchase rate i	1.315%
Number of days before interest is charged on purchases i	56 days
Risk based? i

Foreign purchase fee i	2.99%
Foreign withdrawal fee i	2.99%
Representative APR i	18.9%
Number of days before interest is charged on non-sterling cash transactions i	0 days
Risk based? i
Representative purchase rate i	1.456%

Matching sets (Contents) i
Theft from outbuildings cover limit i	£3,000.00
Escape of water excess i	£50.00
Garden plants i	£2,500.00
Alternative accommodation cover limit for contents i	£10,000.00
Alternative accommodation cover limit for buildings i	£80,000.00
Cover for keys if lost i	£1,000.00
Money in the home i	£750.00
Replace belongings new for old i
Buildings Cover limit i
Contents Cover limit i
24hr helpline i
Temporary freezer storage
Dual Contents i
Business Equipment
Personal possessions cover whilst living in a nursing home or residential care setting i
Medical Equipment Loan i
Theft from bogus officials i

Trace and Access i	£5,000.00
Cover for keys if lost i	£1,000.00
Matching sets i
Rainfall (mm) i	25 mm per hour
Alternative accommodation cover limit i	£80,000.00
Cover for keys if stolen i	£1,000.00
Compulsory excess i	£50.00
Escape of water excess i	£50.00
24hr helpline i
Property owner liability i	£2,000,000.00

Cancelling before travel cover limit i	£5,000.00
Medical excess i	£50.00
Personal Possessions and Baggage - damaged, lost or stolen - cover limit i	£1,500.00
Cutting trip short cover limit i	£5,000.00
Missed departure cover limit i	£1,000.00
Abandoning your trip cover limit i	£5,000.00
Emergency medical cover and repatriation cover limit i	£10,000,000.00
Personal money i	£300.00
Combined passport & travel cover limit i	£750.00

Missed port departure cover limit i	£500.00
Re-joining a cruise cover limit i	£0.00
Cabin confinement cover limit i	£500.00
Missed port departure excess i	£100.00
Timetable/itinerary change cover limit i	£500.00
Unused excursions cover limit i	£750.00

Ski equipment owned cover limit i	£1,000.00
Single owned item cover limit i	£300.00
Cover limit for hire of ski equipment due to loss/damage/delay to own equipment i	£300.00
Avalanche closure cover limit i	£250.00
Piste closure cover limit i	£300.00
Ski equipment owned excess i	£50.00
Ski equipment hired i	£300.00
Single item limit for hired equipment i	£300.00
Unused ski pass due to illness or injury i	£300.00

Ski equipment owned cover limit i	£1,000.00
Single owned item cover limit i	£300.00
Cover limit for hire of ski equipment due to loss/damage/delay to own equipment i	£300.00
Avalanche closure cover limit i	£250.00
Piste closure cover limit i	£300.00
Ski equipment owned excess i	£50.00
Ski equipment hired i	£300.00
Single item limit for hired equipment i	£300.00
Unused ski pass due to illness or injury i	£300.00

First Direct

Bank accounts

Current accounts

Foreign use bank accounts

Overdrafts

Credit cards

0% balance transfer credit cards

0% purchase credit cards

Foreign use credit cards

Home insurance (building and contents)

Buildings insurance

Contents insurance

Travel insurance

Single trip insurance

Travel insurance add-on: cruise cover

Travel insurance add-on: winter sports

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