legals

For written details of our services telephone 08 456 100 100. first direct 1st Account and other services are not available for business use. Applicants must be aged 18 or over. Calls may be monitored and/or recorded for training/security purposes. All applicants must have a private telephone and a UK residential address. first direct has a Minicom Text Telephone Number which is 08 456 100 147.

We reserve the right to decline to open an account. first direct credit facilities are subject to status.

first direct is a division of HSBC Bank plc which is a member of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme established under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Most depositors, including individuals and small firms, are covered. The Scheme covers deposits made with the offices of the Bank within the European Economic Area and deposits denominated in all currencies are treated alike. Further details of the Scheme are available from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, 7th Floor, Lloyds Chambers, Portsoken Street, London E1 8BN, telephone 020 7892 7300 or log onto their website at www.fscs.org.uk.

All rates are quoted per annum. With the exception of our Personal Loan, Regular Saver Account and Regular Saver ISA rates, all our rates are variable. Personal Loan rates are subject to change but are fixed for the duration of the borrowing once the loan has been drawn down. Annual Equivalent Rate (AER) is a notional rate which illustrates what the gross rate would be if interest was paid and compounded each year. We pay gross interest (that is, the interest paid before the deduction of tax applied to the interest on savings) to customers who register as non-taxpayers or non-UK residents and net to all other customers. The net rate is the rate after the deduction of tax on interest, currently 20%. Higher rate tax payers will have an additional liability. This tax rate may change. Tax deducted may be reclaimed by non-taxpayers. If you are eligible for the payment of gross credit interest and require a registration form, please telephone 08 456 100 100. All borrowing interest rate changes are usually advertised in The Independent, The Times and The Guardian newspapers.

first direct is fully committed to following the requirements of The Banking Code. This is a voluntary code, setting out the standards of good banking practice to be followed by banks, building societies and card issuers in their relations with personal customers in the United Kingdom. If you would like a copy of The Banking Code, please call any time on 08 456 100 100 and we will be happy to send one to you. The Banking Code is also available online at www.bankingcode.org.uk.

first direct is a division of HSBC Bank plc which is a member of the Financial Ombudsman Service. Further details of the Scheme are available from South Quay Plaza, 183 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SR.

Sharedealing service: Please remember that the value of shares and the income from them can go down as well as up: you may not get back the amount you invested.

You must have a minimum mortgage of £30,000 to qualify for an offset Mortgage.

Gross: the rate before the deduction of tax applied to interest on savings.

AER: The Annual Equivalent Rate is a notional rate which illustrates what the gross rate would be if interest was paid and compounded each year.

Tax free: free of income tax.

We pay gross interest (that is, the interest paid before the deduction of tax applied to the interest on savings) to customers who register as non-taxpayers or non-UK residents and net to all other customers.

Net: the rate after the deduction of tax applicable to interest, currently 20%. Higher rate tax-payers will have an additional liability.

With a variable rate loan, the interest charged will alter from time to time. This means that when interest rates rise, the interest will increase, but will become less when the interest rate falls. first direct mortgages are subject to status and security.

With an offset Mortgage, a charge is taken over the property to secure the house purchase loan and any linked borrowing.

For written quotations and full details of our services, write to first direct, 40 Wakefield Road, Leeds LS98 1FD, or call 08 456 100 100. first direct credit facilities are subject to status. first direct reserves the right to decline to open an account for you.

first direct will supply information and product details to enable you to make an informed decision as to the most appropriate mortgage from our range, we do not provide advice on mortgage lending.

Think carefully before securing other debts against your home. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

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