first direct
June 30, 2025
More About first direct
Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, our new and improved mobile app makes banking even simpler.
From checking your balances and viewing transactions to paying family and friends, mobile banking takes all the hassle out of everyday money stuff. You can now do more than ever from the comfort of your own phone - and if that’s not exciting enough, this is just the start of our mini digital revolution, with loads more improvements on the way.
So go on. Get yourself up to date.
Update now >>
• Free to use, but providers may charge for download and usage
• Use in accordance with local laws and check charges if using abroad
• Use in accordance with our App terms and conditions
• Use in accordance with Google terms and conditions
• This app may be withdrawn at any time, but we’ll always keep you in the loop.
Latest Version
5.10.2
June 30, 2025
first direct
Finance
Android
1,409,666
Free
com.firstdirect.bankingonthego
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User Reviews
Beckie
1 month ago
paying fail when I try to pay with the app and scan my fingerprint , although it's a good step for security, afterwards the app will no longer communicate with the terminal, I have to stand there and tap again and again so much so that it's useless and I now have to carry my bank card around with me just incase I can't pay with my phone , it's embarrassing when its supposed to be quicker way of paying yet it holds everyone up especially on public transport or a busy bar or something
Michael Royle
1 month ago
switched from Barclays recently and already regretting it. app kept crashing so I tried to uninstall and reinstall and now need a username I've picked to login, no idea what this is! gone through the dozens of letters I've received since banking started with them and it's in none of them. I just want an easy life, including my banking app. I suppose I'll be calling CS tomorrow
Jp
3 weeks ago
Why can't we access more than just one month's worth of transactions? Edit: yes you can click on statements but I don't want to download a statement I want to scroll per month and stay within the app. I actually use the Halifax app so I can see transactions based on each month for this reason. Edit: 5 years ago, I made the review above & the app has gotten worse. Having to select whether payer is in the UK or not, constantly creating new payers just for a reference, no more than 90 day history
Adrian 'SARG' Salter
2 weeks ago
Major design error (every other banking app works ok) Now you have added Screen Capture security it is impossible to capture transfer transaction receipts. No statement lines are not the same. No option to send proof to recipient or email. No option to save to gallery of Phone.
Peter Goff
1 month ago
Can't close the app from the opening screen, completely takes over the screen leaving no home/back button. Very annoying as my wife's alternative bank app is better and has been doing payment notifications for a long time. Surprised First Direct are so behind a conventional bank.
N B
2 months ago
It's Ok, but I find it counter intuitive. The web interface is better, so it's annoying there's a disjointed experience. App and web don't follow the same usage pattern. We now have a "Payments" menu in the app but I miss "Move Money". I simply want to pick a payee and see what future transactions I have lined up. The Payments menu is all backwards. In the web interface, it's easy to see a list for all payees. Much better.
Richard Liddiment
2 months ago
Very basic and outdated compared to other banking apps. Payments has recently been updated but is now worse! So many steps just to make a payment - including selecting if UK or Overseas every time! Why are there no "Favourites" so you can easily go to the most frequent payees? Credit Card payment due option was accidentally removed in a previous update, came back but has gone again - poor app testing
I will Review you
1 month ago
Worst bank! I actually thought about switching to FD, I made an application and all good, but instantly got from my credit reference agency a message that they carried out a hard search! Wow. I don't need any overdraft or something, I just planned to switch my bank accounts. Don't use them ever again!
A Google user
1 month ago
So easy to transfer money now. Please add facility to view future one off payments too Update: 5 stars in 2018, now in 2025, still no ability to see what one-off future payments you have set up, you can only see Direct Debits or Standing Orders. Like many other reviewers, the app has not kept up with the competition. As soon as I have renewed my mortgage I'll probably be looking for a new main account provider. Shame as I have been with FD for over 15yrs.
Peter Waine
4 weeks ago
Not changed much over the years. Recently taken a UX retrograde with more steps for repeat / regular payment/ transfers. The whole thing is like "how we used to live" / "2005 house" TV documentary. But I'm not here for the crApp soo.. Old fashioned and klunky, no summaries, no dashboard just a list of recent transactions. Feature poor.
Thomas Pearson
1 month ago
The app used to be great. Once they turned off text updates I lost a little faith but moved to notifications. Now notifications don't work either. The UI is no longer intuitive after some changes recently, especially around payees. It's a shame, FD used to be a great bank and tech first but feels like tech is an after thought now...
Nick Sturrock
1 month ago
Every payment transfer to anyone anywhere saves destination as a new payee on the account, even if you know it's a one-off OR even if it's the same as a previous payee but with a new reference (e.g. an invoice id) - this is of course COMPLETELY RETARDED, well done FD. Still can't send a secure message from the app for no apparent reason. Nearly six years since I first hated this app enough to complain, it's barely any better. If you want to do a lot of mobile banking I'd choose another bank.
A Google user
1 month ago
This app has only had one tangible improvement in 10 years (fingerprint login). And it came a long time after competitors mastered it. Nothing else of note has been added. So much for a forward thinking bank. 2 years later and cheque deposit still doesn't work. Crashes the app and makes my phone camera forget how to autofocus. First Direct might as well close down. Completely pointless existing in this decade.
Rob Tipples
1 year ago
It behaves like you'd expect for an app under resourced since it was released. Some low lights: - They ask for a password 6-9 characters, not allowing special characters. Fine a decade ago, huge security risk now - If you want access codes for online banking, you have to log out of the app to get access. Clearly bolted on to the existing app rather than properly integrated. - To confirm an online payment via the app; use fingerprint to log into app then fingerprint again to confirm payment. Why?
colin kay
2 years ago
Very frustrating, cannot install on my phone . Had the app until a few weeks ago and then F.D. informed me that the app was no longer supported on my phone and l would have to update it . My phone has had software updates recently but everything works fine ,why can they just not leave things alone ,was very happy with F.D.until this episode.
A Google user
6 years ago
Solid and reliable app, which allows me to do most things that I want to do. I'd *really* like to be able to deposit cheques through the app, by submitting a photo of the cheque. This effectively happens at the automated cheque deposit machines in HSBC branches, so it really ought to be possible via mobile banking. come on first direct, lead the way again!
Eleanor Fricker
7 months ago
Good app but I'd love it if changing a payment reference or amount to a payee didn't create a new payee bumping ones I want to keep off the list and cluttering it up. Very odd. Also only being able to see and search a month of transactions... I'd it's a long month or I do something a couple of days out I then can't check what I paid someone the previous month without going online and downloading a statement. I would value a lot more transaction his. Updating these functions would be invaluable.
Richard Lawton
1 year ago
Excellent app. Nice clean interface with clear summaries of the various accounts you hold (current, savings, shares, etc). It's very easy to use. I appreciate the security protocols in place - makes me feel my money is very secure. I've banked with First Direct for decades - they are fantastic, with brilliant customer service.
MN Williams
5 months ago
This app is not intuitive at all and lacks so many basic features. Such as digital receipts for bank transfers, (which can then be shared). Other banking apps offer this. This is basic. Many other things are missing. How hard can it be to add these features? Don't wait for us to tell you what's missing, take initiative and look at other apps, and make some improvements please.
Marcus McLernon
3 months ago
A very frustrating app that's not intuitive. Never used a bank or website that makes it so complicated every time you want to view your own account. updating review so it's current, been using the app for some time now and it's even more frustrating than ever, you can't search far back in transactions and it deletes your friends payment information after use, other banks have way better and way more intuitive modern apps.
