If customer service matters to you, First Direct is genuinely the best bank in the UK right now. They topped the January 2026 UKCSI Best Customer Service ranking across all 13 sectors the index covers, not just banking, and 97% of customers in Finder's awards said they would recommend the bank.

Phone support is 24/7 and you actually speak to a real person in Leeds, which sounds like a small thing until you have spent half an hour stuck on someone else's phone tree.

The 1st Account itself is one of the most useful current accounts in the market. No monthly fee, fee-free spending abroad, a £250 interest-free overdraft buffer, and access to a 7% Regular Saver once you are a customer. That Regular Saver alone is reason to switch and stay.

The only real downside is no branches, which matters for some people and not others. If you need to deposit cash regularly or want a face-to-face relationship with your bank, this is not the one. For everyone else, especially if you are already comfortable doing your banking on a phone, it is a strong recommendation, better than the high-street alternatives in almost every measurable way.