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General bank account help

  • What is my sort code?

    Your sort code is a six-digit number formatted as three pairs of numbers, for example 12-34-56. It identifies both the bank and the branch where the account is held. You can find your first direct sort code on your debit card, paper statements, within Online Banking or in our App.

    Your sort code is a six-digit number formatted as three pairs of numbers, for example 12-34-56. It identifies both the bank and the branch where the account is held. You can find your first direct sort code on your debit card, paper statements, within Online Banking or in our App.

  • How much can I withdraw from my bank account?

    Our debit card allows you to make cash withdrawals in pounds in the UK up to £500 per day or the foreign currency equivalent if withdrawing cash in foreign currency outside of the UK. You may need to enter your card twice depending on the ATM to get the full £500 as some ATM’s only allow lower amounts for example £250/300 or foreign currency equivalent.

    We don’t charge you for this but some cash machine operators may apply a direct charge for withdrawals from their cash machines and this should be advised on screen at the time of withdrawal.

    Our debit card allows you to make cash withdrawals in pounds in the UK up to £500 per day or the foreign currency equivalent if withdrawing cash in foreign currency outside of the UK. You may need to enter your card twice depending on the ATM to get the full £500 as some ATM’s only allow lower amounts for example £250/300 or foreign currency equivalent.

    We don’t charge you for this but some cash machine operators may apply a direct charge for withdrawals from their cash machines and this should be advised on screen at the time of withdrawal.

  • How do I close my account?

    You can close your account at any time.

    If there's no money in your account, chat with us in our App - go to 'Help' and select 'Chat now'. Or in Online Banking, select 'Message us'.

    Otherwise please write to us at first direct, 40 Wakefield Road, Leeds, LS98 1FD. Or give us a call. We won't pressure you to stay but we'll be sad to see you go.

    Before you do this, can we ask that you have taken into consideration the following (if applicable):

    • you have cancelled all standing orders and Direct Debits on the account
    • you have no outstanding cheques to clear on account
    • you have no pending/authorised transactions still to debit
    • you have no continuous authorisations
    • you have no fees or charges
    • your account in not in a debit balance
    • if your account is joint then a decision to close is amicable
    • any regular credits to the account you may have, have been redirected e.g. Salary credits, child benefit etc
    • alternatively, you may choose to open an account with another bank and switch away from us using the Current Account Switch Service.

     

    You can close your account at any time.

    If there's no money in your account, chat with us in our App - go to 'Help' and select 'Chat now'. Or in Online Banking, select 'Message us'.

    Otherwise please write to us at first direct, 40 Wakefield Road, Leeds, LS98 1FD. Or give us a call. We won't pressure you to stay but we'll be sad to see you go.

    Before you do this, can we ask that you have taken into consideration the following (if applicable):

    • you have cancelled all standing orders and Direct Debits on the account
    • you have no outstanding cheques to clear on account
    • you have no pending/authorised transactions still to debit
    • you have no continuous authorisations
    • you have no fees or charges
    • your account in not in a debit balance
    • if your account is joint then a decision to close is amicable
    • any regular credits to the account you may have, have been redirected e.g. Salary credits, child benefit etc
    • alternatively, you may choose to open an account with another bank and switch away from us using the Current Account Switch Service.

     

  • How do I cancel my First Directory

    To cancel your First Directory account, chat with us in our App - go to 'Help' and select 'Chat now'. Or in Online Banking, select 'Message us'.

    To cancel your First Directory account, chat with us in our App - go to 'Help' and select 'Chat now'. Or in Online Banking, select 'Message us'.