Overdraft

£250 of your overdraft interest-free

Too much month left at the end of your money?

  • no interest charges on the first £250 of your arranged overdraft and 39.9% EAR variable on anything above £250 (subject to status)
  • we'll send you text messages to alert you about going into your arranged overdraft or exceeding your arranged limit.

How does our overdraft compare?

You can compare our overdrafts with other ways of borrowing by looking at the Annual Percentage Rate (APR). APR is the cost of borrowing over a year and lets you compare the costs with other credit products.

How much does my overdraft cost in pounds and pence?

Here are some examples of how much it would cost if you borrowed £500 of your overdraft:

Account 7 days 30 days 60 days
Account1st Account 7 days£1.63 30 days£7.00 60 days£13.99

1st Account linked to offset mortgage - Balance charged at your mortgage rate.

Representative example

0% EAR variable on the first £250. 39.9% EAR variable on anything above that, giving a representative rate of 30.5% APR variable (based on an assumed arranged overdraft £1,200).

The representative example shows you the rate of interest we’d charge for arranged overdrafts. For 1st Account, this example shows the cost of any interest above the interest free limit.

Overdraft overview

An overdraft can be used to borrow money on your current account and can help in months where there are unplanned events. Overdrafts are not suitable for long term borrowing and will typically result in you being charged interest.

An arranged overdraft is where we agree an overdraft limit with you. We share information about how you use your account with credit reference agencies.

An unarranged overdraft is when you authorise a payment that would take your account overdrawn or beyond your arranged limit without agreeing in advance an overdraft to cover it. We’ll always consider an unarranged request and will make the payment if we can, subject to status. An unarranged overdraft may result in declined transactions. If you are in your unarranged overdraft for greater than 30 days this could have an impact on your credit file.

Use our Eligibility Checker and Cost Calculator (below) to find out more about our overdraft service before applying for or changing an arranged overdraft.

You have 14 days to cancel an overdraft agreement beginning on the day we provide the overdraft or on the day you have received our letter, whichever is later.

You can also ask us to reduce or remove your arranged overdraft limit at any time by calling us on 03 456 100 199.  You’ll have to repay any overdrawn amount plus any interest for the period you’ve had it. 

Overdraft Cost Calculator

dpws-tools-overdraft-u-k-calculator

The figures in this tool are to give you a good indication, any overdraft limit you require will need to be agreed with us. 

Our calculator uses a few assumptions to calculate the results. You can see these in detail at the bottom of the page.

Because an overdraft is for short term borrowing there could be other, cheaper options. You can call us on 03 456 100 199 if you'd like more information.

Overdraft Eligibility Tool

You can use our Eligibility Checker to get an indication of whether or not you'll be accepted for an overdraft.

Capped fees if you do go over your limit

We may charge overdraft interest for using any unarranged overdraft capacity. However, we will never charge more than £20 in unarranged overdraft interest in a charging month. You can find out more on our overdraft fees page.

We'll give you a chance to get back into your limit before we charge you (until 11.45pm on the day you go into an unarranged overdraft). Unless you opt out, if we hold a valid UK mobile number for you, we'll send you a text message to alert you if you go into your unarranged overdraft

The monthly cap on unarranged overdraft charges for your 1st Account is £20.

Monthly cap on unarranged overdraft charges

1. Each current account will set a monthly maximum charge for:

(a) going overdrawn when you have not arranged an overdraft; or

(b) going over/past your arranged overdraft limit (if you have one).

2. This cap covers any:

(a) interest and fees for going over/past your arranged overdraft limit;

(b) fees for each payment your bank allows despite lack of funds; and

(c) fees for each payment your bank refuses due to lack of funds.

If your account is linked to an Offset Mortgage, interest on your overdraft balance will be charged at your mortgage rate. Visit our charges page for more information about overdraft fees.

No overdraft interest on the first £250 of your arranged overdraft (subject to status)

You'll only be charged interest on any arranged balance if you're overdrawn by more than £250.
 

Temporary arranged overdraft support

You have until 27 April 2024 and can re-apply if you've already had the support. If you've previously had support with your overdraft, you can apply for extended support once your previously agreed support has ended. It can take up to 7 days for the support to be added.

 

Text alerts to help avoid charges

Don’t worry we won’t use text speak – and definitely no emoji's.

On 17 November 2019 we introduced new arranged overdraft text alerts. If you haven’t opted out of these alerts and we hold a UK mobile number for you, we’ll text to let you know if you’re using or are about to use your overdraft. We’ll also let you know the following day if you’ll be charged overdraft interest.

In addition, we also send you text alerts if your account balance goes over its arranged overdraft limit (an ‘unarranged’ overdraft).

The text alerts are sent to give you time to pay money (not a cheque) into your account before the end of the day - by 11.45pm. : If you do this you will avoid having to pay overdraft interest.

You can choose to opt out of receiving these alerts at any time by sending a message via Online Banking or the Mobile Banking App, or calling us on 03 456 100 100.

Opting out of alerts may mean you miss important information which can help you avoid costs. If you choose to opt out of text alerts, this will apply to all personal current accounts you hold with first direct.

Overdrafts explained - FAQs

How to get an overdraft with us

New to first direct

You'll need to open a Current Account with us.

If you're over 18, a UK resident, haven't been declared bankrupt or registered for an Individual Voluntary Agreement in the last six years (or be in the process of doing so), and have a phone number and email address we can contact you with, we'd love to welcome you.


Existing Customers

Talk to us about reviewing your overdraft facility.

Give us a call on 03 456 100 199.

Lines are open Mon to Thur 8am to 10pm, Fri 8am to 9pm, Sat 8am to 8pm, Sun 9am to 8pm.

 

 

The results of the calculator use these assumptions:

  1. The amount borrowed is taken in full at noon on the date of the calculation.
  2. The number of days overdrawn is a continuous period.
  3. At the time you take the money the balance of your current account is £0.
  4. No other credits or debits will be added to the account during the period.
  5. The outstanding balance will be repaid in full on the last day of the borrowing period, before 11.45pm.
  6. The interest rate used for the calculation will be the same for the whole period. If there happens to be a planned rate change during the period you specified the calculation will reflect that.
  7. The calculator doesn’t take into account interest you may have already incurred since your last statement.
  8. There won’t be any changes to your overdraft limit during the calculation period.