A friend still has no transaction notifications despite having the options in the new HSBC app. I’ve checked his iPhone and it’s all set correctly to allow notifications. CS told him that they are still being rolled out (sigh).
The section on their website about the new app alludes to this, too.
That’s not right - if the option is available, it should work and as far as I’m aware the options are now available for everybody.
@urban In short, yes. HSBC’s notifications notify you about absolutely everything that happens on your account, instantly, just as Monzo do. So presumably First Direct will be the same.
I don’t know why you ask about pending transactions, since both HSBC and First Direct already show those in full detail for debit cards, it’s just a separate section of the transaction list.
Oh wonderful! Thanks for the info.
I haven’t used FD for card transactions since I went Full Monzo in 2017, so this is all new to me. But helping me to make a decision about maybe moving back soon 
I wouldn’t move back, personally, since they have none of the rich transaction data that Monzo and other fintechs do.
That’s still a big difference in my book.
Merchant data, or the lack of updating it at Monzo, is one of my thoughts. It was one of the big reasons I went Full Monzo. But if they are not touching it anymore…🤷
Good point, although I personally wouldn’t go “full” (meaning only account) with any one bank.
Just in case!
Oh in that sense I never have 
I just mean moving all daily transactions
Oh, I get what you mean now!
Just a quick warning if you’ve closed your old FD account and want to go back.
You can’t reapply online (or couldn’t last year) meaning you have to call them up. The questions they ask are far beyond the usual (asking details of monthly incomings and expenditure and other things I’ve forgotten) so much so that I ended up feeling deeply uncomfortable. I told them that and terminated the process half way through.
Thanks Peter. And eww.
No, I kept it open, but largely unused (mainly just for paying in cheques and cash, and for when the odd Monzo transaction failed).
Always good to have a backup. With hindsight, maybe it was a mistake to close it, but I think it was pre Monzo (as a proper bank at least) and I had a couple of other accounts so seemed superfluous.
It was also at the time that they were suffering from staffing issues so rather than a human within a few rings I was getting an automated message and a queue.
I was with First Direct for 28 years, but I’d only go back to them if I lost my sight and I had to rely on telephone banking, because that’s what they are best at.
Their app is rubbish, frankly. I have about seven different banking apps on my phone and theirs is the worst. I still have the FD app because I still have their credit card, although I never use it.
But they ask that on their online form too. I guess it is uncomfortable when one hears it out loud over the phone rather than type in a webform.
I don’t remember the details. Just that it went on for a while and got more and more intrusive.
I voted with my gut (which felt most uncomfortable) 
Lots of things have been “coming soon” including announcements from several years ago though 
I’m sure they’ll get there eventually, but too late for me as I just grew tired of all their false starts.
Yes, you have a point!
That’s why I said famous last words in my previous post.
Personally, I only opened my First Direct account for the bonus (and not that long ago) so I am not that bothered as I don’t really use them for anything.
I appreciate that some people have banked with them for years, since back in the telephone days, and may have mortgages and other products with them - so for those people the lack of digital functionality is probably more frustrating.
PS: I also get the feeling that a lot of First Direct’s more significant plans have either been subject to delays caused by HSBC management or reviewed in the wake of a bit of change in direction.
Before Joe Gordon left, it seemed that a major overhaul was coming, but more recently they seem to have reassessed whether or not that is a good idea.
My guess is that they don’t want to alienate their existing long-time customers who are not interested in digital banking, so the current focus has very much been on improving and maintaining high levels of phone support.
I opened mine for the 5% fixed rate regular saver. Those were the days. Unused account now.
Same, and Same
First Direct really is having a mid–life crisis. Described on a railway station billboard ad this morning as ‘First Direct Bank’ which I don’t think I’ve ever seen before. Has it received some sort of management consultant advice which told it that no one under the age of 50 remembers it exists any more?
