1st Account

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Banking that fits your life

We designed our current account with one thing in mind. You. And with a range of features designed to help you get the most out of your money, you'll spend less time banking - and more time living. What's more, you don't have to take our word for it - as the UK's most recommended bank, you know we come with a great reputation.*

• Switch your banking to us we'll give you £100**
• £250 interest free overdraft
• beautifully designed Internet Banking service
• real people to answer your calls, 24 hours a day, seven days a week
• our Easyswitch service makes moving your Current account easier
• comes with our satisfaction guarantee - if you're not happy we'll give you £100.***

* From 3 January to 2 July 2012, 54% of 98 first direct current account customers had actually recommended the bank. Closest brand over the same period had 42% of 328 current account customers recommend the bank. Source: Independent Survey.

** Open a 1st Account then transfer your banking using our Easyswitch service (transferring at least two Direct Debits and/or standing orders) and salary/income of at least £1,000 per month to your 1st Account within three months of your account opening and we will add £100 to your account. This offer is only available for people who haven't previously held any account with first direct and is limited to one payment per joint relationship.

Our service guarantee

Banking with first direct is different. To start with, you can call and speak to a real person 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. If you prefer, you can access our Internet Banking service wherever you're online, or use any of our Mobile Banking facilities, including our Banking on the go App for Apple and Android devices.

But the truth is, it's difficult to imagine what makes banking with first direct so special unless you've actually had the experience. That's why we introduced our Service Guarantee: we're so certain that our service is better than anyone else's, if you're not happy banking with first direct after six months, we'll help you move to any bank you like and give you £100 for your trouble.

*** Here's how it works. We'll pay £100 per customer or joint relationship if you close your 1st Account within 12 months of opening it, as long as a monthly salary or income of £1000 or more has been paid into that account for at least six months and you haven't previously had an account with first direct. You'll also need to have used our Easyswitch service which means we'll have obtained details of your standing orders and Direct Debits from your previous bankers and arranged to transfer them for you. We'll pay the £100 into your 1st Account prior to its closure. All accounts with first direct have to be closed and your 1st Account transferred to another bank/building society.

Easyswitch your banking to first direct

It's our job to make your life simpler, and that starts when you switch to first direct. You can use our Easyswitch service to transfer standing orders and Direct Debits and we'll also help you with transferring your income or salary into your new account.

If there is failure in the switching process we will refund any charges or interest you've paid to us, and if you are a Northern Ireland customer your old bank should refund any charges or interest you've paid to them.

If you are a Northern Ireland customer and you use our switching service we can offer you an interest and charge free overdraft for three months from the date that you open your account with us, taking into account your existing Direct Debits and standing orders, subject to our usual credit assessment criteria.

Find out more about Easyswitch

£250 interest free overdraft

We give you an automatic £500 formal overdraft when you open your account - and the first £250 of your overdraft is interest free. We will charge you Interest on overdrafts above £250, and we may apply an arrangement fee if you request an informal overdraft more than once every six months.

See interest rates and charges for details of our overdraft fees. If your account is linked to an offset Mortgage interest on your overdraft balance will be charged at your mortgage rate.

Eligibility

Banking with first direct usually costs £10 a month, but we'll waive the fee if you pay in at least £1,000 to your 1st Account each month or maintain an average monthly 1st Account balance of £1,000 or hold a selected first direct additional product. For new customers we waive the fee for your first 6 months. Take a look at our interest rates and charges section for details of the additional products.

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