Compare First Direct Credit Cards

Compare first direct credit cards

Table: sorted by representative APR, promoted deals first

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Product	Finder Score	Purchases	Balance transfers	Annual/monthly fees	Representative APR	Key benefit	Representative example
Finder score 8.1Great first direct Credit Card	Finder score 8.1Great	24.9%	0% for 20 months (2.99% fee)	£0	24.9% APR (variable)	Representative example: Representative 24.9% APR variable. Based on assumed borrowing of £1,200. Rate of interest 24.9% p.a. (variable).	Check eligibility More info Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder score 8.2Great first direct Gold Credit Card	Finder score 8.2Great	0% for 12 months	24.9% (0% fee)	£0	24.9% APR (variable)	Representative example: Representative 24.9% APR variable. Based on assumed borrowing of £1,200. Rate of interest 24.9% p.a. (variable).	Check eligibility More info Compare product selectionCompare	loading

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Showing 2 of 2 results

Finder Score for credit cards

To make comparing even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Costs, perks and suitability across 120+ cards are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score the better the card – simple.

Read the full methodology

Approval for any credit card depends on your status. The representative APRs shown represent the interest rate offered to most successful applicants. Depending on your personal circumstances, the APR you're offered may be higher, or you may not be offered credit at all. Fees and rates are subject to change without notice. It's always wise to check the terms of any deal before you borrow. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables is provided by Defaqto.

What is first direct?

Part of the HSBC banking group, first direct was set up in 1989, and claims to be the only UK bank which has enjoyed such a long period of providing service to its customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It offers the full range of financial products – savings, mortgages and insurance – that you’d find at a high street bank, but without the overheads.

first direct’s outlook is decidedly unstuffy and forward-thinking, with its marketing and publicity aimed squarely at a younger audience, and security measures that include voice recognition. Despite having no branches – operating purely online and over the phone – first direct regularly tops customer satisfaction polls.

What types of credit card does first direct offer?

first direct’s card range is small but perfectly formed, with just two cards. Both are exclusively available to first direct current account holders.

0% balance transfers. Got an outstanding balance with another bank? That needn’t stop you from switching. This type of card allows you to transfer a balance (as the name suggests) to first direct, and enjoy a lengthy period of 0% interest on it. If you do this, you should aim to clear the balance before the end of the 0% period, otherwise a much higher rate kicks in. Work out what you should pay each month by dividing the outstanding sum by the number of months at a 0% rate, and aim not to use the card for spending. Learn more about 0% balance transfer cards.
0% purchases. If you’re planning to make major purchases on your card, a 0% interest on purchases card effectively lets you spread the cost over a number of months (providing the purchase is within the credit limit that first direct gives you). Remember that if you only make the minimum required payments each month, you’ll have an outstanding balance when the 0% period ends, and a much higher rate will kick in. Learn more about Learn more about 0% purchase cards.

Both cards have no annual fee attached, and offer the chance to earn cashback on specific purchases through the separately-administered Visa Offers programme. The cards are Apple Pay and Google Pay-compatible.

How do first direct cards compare against others on the market?

Table: sorted by representative APR, promoted deals first

Here are some popular cards offering 0% on balance transfers and purchases.

Balance Transfer Cards
0% Purchase Cards

The cards below are sorted by their representative APRs, and the length of their 0% on balance transfers offer period, but if you’re interested in comparing the cards by a different feature, you can re-order the table.

4 of 88 results

Product	Finder Score	Balance transfers	Purchases	Annual/monthly fees	Representative APR	Incentive
Finder score 9.9Excellent M&S Bank Purchase Plus Credit Card	Finder score 9.9Excellent	0% for 12 months (3.49% fee)	24.9	£0	24.9% APR (variable)	1 point per £1 spent with M&S and 1 point per £5 spent elsewhere. Enjoy 55 days interest free, preferential rates plus no cash advance fee when buying M&S travel money with the card. Representative example: Representative 24.9% APR variable. Based on assumed borrowing of £1,200. Rate of interest 24.9% p.a. (variable).	Check eligibility More info Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder score 8.1Great first direct Credit Card	Finder score 8.1Great	0% for 20 months (2.99% fee)	24.9	£0	24.9% APR (variable)	Representative example: Representative 24.9% APR variable. Based on assumed borrowing of £1,200. Rate of interest 24.9% p.a. (variable).	Check eligibility More info Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder score 9.5Excellent HSBC Balance Transfer Credit Card	Finder score 9.5Excellent	0% for 33 months (3.19% fee)	24.9	£0	24.9% APR (variable)	Discounts and exclusive offers for dining experiences, leisure activities and shopping available through HSBC Home and Away. Representative example: Representative 24.9% APR variable. Based on assumed borrowing of £1,200. Rate of interest 24.9% p.a. (variable).	Check eligibility More info Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder score Not yet rated Virgin Money Balance Transfer Credit Card (12 Mths)	Finder score Not yet rated	0% for 12 months (1% fee)	24.9	£0	24.9% APR (variable)	Representative example: Representative 24.9% APR variable. Based on assumed borrowing of £1,200. Rate of interest 24.9% p.a. (variable).	More info Compare product selectionCompare	loading

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Showing1 - 4 of 88 results

Finder Score for credit cards

To make comparing even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Costs, perks and suitability across 120+ cards are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score the better the card – simple.

Read the full methodology

The cards below are sorted by their representative APRs, and the length of their 0% on purchases offer period, but if you’re interested in comparing the cards by a different feature, you can re-order the table.

4 of 31 results

Product	Finder Score	Purchases	Balance transfers	Annual/monthly fees	Representative APR	Key benefit	Representative example
Finder score 9.9Excellent M&S Bank Purchase Plus Credit Card	Finder score 9.9Excellent	0% for 24 months	0% for 12 months (3.49% fee)	£0	24.9% APR (variable)	1 point per £1 spent with M&S and 1 point per £5 spent elsewhere. Enjoy 55 days interest free, preferential rates plus no cash advance fee when buying M&S travel money with the card.	Representative example: Representative 24.9% APR variable. Based on assumed borrowing of £1,200. Rate of interest 24.9% p.a. (variable).	Check eligibility More info Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder score 8.3Great HSBC Purchase Plus Credit Card	Finder score 8.3Great	0% for 20 months	0% for 17 months (3.49% fee)	£0	24.9% APR (variable)	Representative example: Representative 24.9% APR variable. Based on assumed borrowing of £1,200. Rate of interest 24.9% p.a. (variable).	Check eligibility More info Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder score 8.7Great Santander All in One Credit Card	Finder score 8.7Great	0% for 15 months	0% for 15 months (0% fee)	£3 per month	29.8% APR (variable)	0.5% cashback after £1 of monthly spend. Maximum of £10 paid per month. Paid monthly into Card Account. Spend with your Santander Mastercard debit or credit card in the UK or abroad until 31 Dec and get entries into a monthly prize draw to win a European trip for two. You must enter the promotion to take part. T&Cs apply.	Representative example: Representative 29.8% APR variable. Based on £3 monthly fee, assumed borrowing of £1,200. Rate of interest 23.9% p.a. (variable).	Check eligibility More info Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder score 8Great TSB Platinum Purchase Card	Finder score 8Great	0% for 25 months	0% for 18 months (3.49% fee)	£0	24.9% APR (variable)	Representative example: Representative 24.9% APR variable. Based on assumed borrowing of £1,200. Rate of interest 24.95% p.a. (variable).	More info Compare product selectionCompare	loading

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Showing1 - 4 of 31 results

Finder Score for credit cards

To make comparing even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Costs, perks and suitability across 120+ cards are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score the better the card – simple.

Read the full methodology

What benefits can I expect from a first direct credit card?

Strong customer support. first direct is the original telephone bank, and 24-hour banking service is available to help you make one-off payments, or set up regular payments, or to answer any questions about your credit card account.
Online account management. first direct’s online banking portal is the place to access a range of options and services attached to your card.
Additional cards. Additional cards can be issued on a single account, but if you apply, you must also hold a first direct current account. With multiple users, it’s normally possible to earn cashback rewards faster.
first direct app. If you’re registered for online banking with first direct, you can find the app in Google Play or Apple’s App Store. Use this to do lots of clever things on your first direct credit card account, including setting up one-off or regular payments.

Applying for a first direct credit card

Applying online for a first direct credit card is quick, easy and secure, and takes about 15 minutes.

Eligibility requirements

To qualify for a first direct credit card, you need to:

Be a UK resident.
Be over 18 years old.
Hold a first direct current account, which you need to credit with at least £1,000 per calendar month (after the first six months of holding the account).
Not have any outstanding County Court Judgments.
Ensure that you can meet the monthly repayments, as missed payments incur a charge and could have severe consequences on your ability to obtain future credit.

Why might your application not be approved?

If you meet the broad criteria outlined above, but have a history of bad debt or no credit history, you could be rejected. Also, if you have been made the subject of a CCJ you may not be accepted, and you are unlikely to be given a card if you have ever declared bankruptcy.

first direct customer reviews

first direct has received mostly positive reviews from customers, according to review site Trustpilot. It has a rating of 4.4 out of 5, based on more than 19,600 reviews (updated October 2023). Some customers highlighted the quick customer service and liked their “easy-to-use” app.

Overview of First Direct credit cards

Representative APR	24.9%
0% balance transfer offer	Up to 20 months
0% purchases offer	Up to 12 months
0% money transfer offer	No money transfer offer available
Cashback with brand	Cashback not available
Cashback elsewhere	Cashback not available
Cash advance	From 29.9%
Introductory bonus offer	No introductory bonus offers available

Frequently-asked questions about first direct credit cards

Amongst other things, the app lets you do the following:
- View your balances and most recent transactions.
- Create new payments to people and companies.
- Make payments to people and companies you’ve paid before.
- Make a payment to your credit card account.
- Set up, view, amend amounts of and cancel standing orders on your accounts.

We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables is provided by Defaqto. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.

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All user-submitted reviews must meet our review guidelines. These set out our standards and expectations, including that the review is from by a genuine user of the relevant product or service and that it is honest, authentic and respectful. We explicitly prohibit fake or otherwise misleading reviews and we check all submissions, but we make no guarantee as to the authenticity of any published review or reviewer. Some reviews may be submitted (regardless of sentiment) in exchange for entry into any competition(s) for which we are the promoter.

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★★★★★ Kenneth (London) 6 months ago