First Direct £210 Switch Bonus
Switch to a First Direct 1st Account for £210 cash (£175 switch bonus plus a temporary £35 boost) when you open between 14 September and 2 December 2026. Within 45 days you need a full CASS switch with at least 2 Direct Debits or standing orders, a £1,000 deposit, 5+ debit card payments, and a digital banking login.
Read our full review · 4.2/5 →Quick answer
Use the referral link for the First Direct offer. New eligible customers can get £210 after meeting the requirement: CASS switch with 2 Direct Debits or standing orders, £1,000 deposit, 5+ card payments, and digital banking login within 45 days. Last verified 2026-09-16.
- Reward
- £210
- Referral code
- No code required
- Last verified
- 2026-09-16
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time to claim
- 15-20 minutes
- Time to payout
- By the 20th of the month after all criteria are met
Ad / referral links — we may earn a bonus when you sign up.
How to claim
- Open a First Direct 1st Account (new customers only — never held any First Direct product before).
- Use the Current Account Switch Service (CASS) to switch from another bank, including at least 2 Direct Debits or standing orders.
- Deposit £1,000 within 45 days of account opening.
- Make at least 5 debit card payments within 45 days (in-store, online, digital wallet or physical card).
- Log on to digital banking within 45 days of opening.
- Receive the £175 switch payment plus the temporary £35 boost (total £210 for the current window) by the 20th of the following month once First Direct confirms the criteria are met.
Eligibility & requirements
- New customers only who have not previously held a first direct product.
- Unavailable to people who opened an HSBC current account on or after 1 January 2018.
- Must use the Current Account Switch Service with at least 2 Direct Debits or standing orders.
- Within 45 days of opening: deposit £1,000, make 5+ debit card payments, and log on to digital banking.
- Current £35 boost applies to accounts opened between 14 September and 2 December 2026; offer can be withdrawn at any time — check the live page before applying.
Verification notes
- Minimum spend/deposit
- CASS switch with 2 Direct Debits or standing orders, £1,000 deposit, 5+ card payments, and digital banking login within 45 days
- Last verified
- 16 September 2026
- Automated source check
- 15 September 2026
Provider terms can change without warning. Treat this as a verification snapshot and confirm the live terms before applying.
Pros
- Consistently top-rated mobile and telephone banking (award-winning customer service).
- £250 interest-free arranged overdraft.
- Reliable, frequent switch offers.
- Current window pays £210 (£175 plus £35 boost) with a lower pay-in than many rivals.
Watch out for
- Excludes anyone who has ever held a First Direct product.
- Also excludes people who opened an HSBC current account on or after 1 January 2018.
- No physical branches (telephone and app only).
- More moving parts than a simple pay-in-only switch bonus; the £35 boost is time-limited.
FAQ
- How long does the switch bonus take to arrive?
- First Direct says you get the money by the 20th of the following month in which all criteria have been met. Do not assume instant payment after the fifth card transaction.
- Is the bonus £175 or £210?
- The core switch payment is £175. For accounts opened between 14 September and 2 December 2026, First Direct currently adds a £35 boost, making the total £210. Check the live switching page before you apply.
- I had an HSBC savings account — am I still eligible?
- Yes, as long as you've never held a First Direct product and haven't opened an HSBC *current account* on or after 1 January 2018. HSBC savings accounts don't disqualify you.
- Will switching hurt my credit score?
- Opening a new account triggers a credit check, but using CASS to switch is routine. Any impact is usually minor and short-lived.
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Added 16 June 2026 · Last updated 16 September 2026. Offers and terms change frequently - always confirm on the provider's site before applying.