First Direct

A question about : First Direct

How strict are First Direct on lending?

I passed their credit check to move my current a/c to them last year, the loan would be to clear credit card debt.

I see they are advertising at 3.9% currently, however when I inquisitively clicked onto the apply online section of the online banking website it indicated an APR of 9.9%

Is that indicative of them being willing to offer a loan to me but at a higher APR?

I have only applied for one bank loan previously through Bank of Scotland that was done instantly online after it appeared on my online banking as an offer.

Best answers:

• How much credit card debt do you have? How much are you wanting to borrow?
  Would a balance transfer to a 0% card not be a better option?
• Call them and have a chat, thats the best thing about banking with first direct you can get through quickly and can speak to their lending team, who Im sure will discuss what they can offer you. They may be able to offer a 0% balance transfer on one of their credit cards depending on how much you need.
• Old post of mine but just went through the same process at the weekend on FD website, it came back with the 3.9% rate, I done some reading on their website and it seems this is based on a soft search and is an offer, so obtained the loan and 3.9% and cleared credit cards on Saturday evening.
  Whole process took no more than 10 minutes and funds were in my current account instantly.
• Sounds like you were lucky to get that rate. Good luck with the consolidation loan, it's not often the best option but you've made a good start.