First Direct voted best current account provider by UK consumers

8th March 2010

First Direct beat the High Street banks to be voted Britain's best current account provider in This is Money's money brands awards.

87% of customers of the internet and telephone based bank said they were either likely or very likely to stay with First Direct and 88% said they would recommend it to a friend.

It also trounced its rivals in the customer service stakes, with a huge 94% of customers rating the customer service they receive as very good or good and 83% of queries resolved quickly or very quickly.

Co-op and Nationwide occupied the second and third positions behind First Direct, with 82% of Co-op customers likely to stay with their bank and 85% saying they'd recommend it to a friend.

Co-op was also highly commended for its high customer service levels with 89% rating it as either good or very good.

First Direct also won the Best Savings Account Provider with 83% of holders saying they would recommend it and 92% deeming the customer services as good or very good.

Nationwide building society triumphed in the Best Mortgage Provider category, with Barclays and Cheltenham & Gloucester and Abbey runners-up.

66% of Nationwide mortgage holders said they were likely or very likely to stay while 78% ranked the customer service they received as good or very good.

In other categories, Alliance & Leicester was awarded Best Cash Isa Provider, Tesco won most trusted Best Car Insurance provider with Saga getting the Best Customer Service gong, and RIAS was voted Best Home Insurance Provider.

Andrew Oxlade, This is Money's editor, says: 'Our readers make it their mission to meticulously sift through all the players in the personal finance industry to find the best - they're a very choosy lot. Winning them over on either customer services or trust - and in many cases on both - is quite an achievement. Well done to all the winners.'

5,000 readers took part in the survey.

Claims Financial