Contrast, and simplicity, which is neat to look at.
I think Barclays are the same, but I like blue so maybe I’m bias 
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FWIW I really like the design of the FD App, if it were a little more modern I might even bank with them.
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Transaction notifications etc are coming which will be good.
Open banking would also be good to see.
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Same. Blue was the whole reason I ever chose Barclays for anything ever.
That, and, at the time, they were most interesting on the tech side of things.
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Annoyingly, when you spend via debit card the balance doesn’t amend on the home accounts page, only when entering the account does it show the actual available balance 
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This was another reason I didn’t choose to open a FD account.
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It’s not a major issue, just means extra clicks for transparency.
Wonder if VM do it the other way.
Yes they do!
Their main balance is the available balance figure, but in the details of the account there is also a cleared balance figure (it’s just hidden unless you look for it).
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They’re definitely having some issues there clearly.
FD prefer to search for your account via postcode and surname/initial which brings up a whole list and they select who you are, they can also search via account details too in a different system perhaps they didn’t know that… 
Maybe they finally changed their internal systems which they have had for the past 40 years and lost some features 
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Was such a pain. Even said I can give the account number and sort code but nope
Maybe their process changed as part of security to fix their search criteria, which they asked for postcode and name, nothing else.
All sorted now though. Shame they show cleared balance on home page not available though as I quite like the clean app.
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They are using voice recognition to verify you on the phone now once enrolled (like HSBC is too) so it’s not impossible that changes were made to their processes when they deployed that?
First direct don’t use any voice recognition I don’t think, unless they can do this whilst speaking to an advisor as I’m sure it’s all automated and just transfers you to someone when you call. Could be wrong though.
HSBC’s is automated and asks you to repeat a trigger phrase, First Direct’s version analyses your speech as you talk to the advisor and automatically gives them a pass/fail after a short time. They can then ask further follow-up security questions if it fails.
It starts running as soon as they answer the call, so that’s probably partly why the first questions they ask are your name and postcode as they are easy to remember, so don’t “feel like” security as they are things you would already know. They do allow them to run the analysis, though, and also act as a rudimentary way to filter out impersonation fraud (as other people wouldn’t get your voice right easily or necessarily know your full name and post code).
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Ah, that’s clever then.
My accent is a mix of north east and north west, with a midlands twang.
Sounds awful.
It is. 
There’s no impersonating you then - it would be far too difficult to get it right!
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It would, I also have a habit of picking up accents of those who I’m around. Such a curse.
Edited accounts - accents
I’m keeping my cards under lock and key around you, then
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Oh my days.
Accents not accounts
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First Direct have always asked for your post code and name, long before the voice recognition security thing was invented. The opening script used to go: “This is First Direct, may I take you through security, starting with your postcode.” They were doing this 30 years ago.
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I see, it’s clearly not new then!
I suppose they ask for post code as it’s unlikely they have loads of customers all within the same postcode area and it’s a much shorter thing to ask for than a full address.
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