Standing orders and Direct Debits

A standing order is an agreement between you and first direct to send an amount of money on a regular basis to a person or company. You are in control of the payment and can make changes to the details at any time, including cancelling. This can only be arranged on a 1st Account. Standing orders can be set up via Online Banking or through our App. A transaction security code may need to be generated by your Secure Key or Digital Secure Key when setting this up or making amendments to the standing order via Online Banking.

Setting up a standing order is easy. You can do it through your Online Banking or through our App.

To set up a standing order you will need to provide the following details:

• destination sort code (6 digits)
• destination account number (usually 8 digits)
• destination account name
• payment reference
• payment amount
• first payment date
• payment frequency (if the payment falls on a weekend or public holiday the payment will be made on the next working day)
• payment duration i.e. number of payments needed, final payment date or until further notice.

If you are unsure about any of the above information, we recommend you contact the person/company you are making the payment to. Details quoted on bank giro credits are often not the correct banking details for paying a standing order.

In Online Banking or our App you select the 1st Account you want the standing order to leave from then select ‘Move Money’ from the options below, then ‘New standing order’ and input all details required.

To amend a standing order already set up on Online Banking or via our App then you can only amend the amount at this time but you can use this to check the details already held. If you want to amend any other details you would need to cancel the existing standing order and set up again from scratch following the above process. To amend the amount you would select the 1st Account the standing order is set up on then ‘Manage Money’, ‘Regular Payments, then select the standing order on which you want to amend the amount. On our App you would select the 1st Account you want to amend the standing order on ‘Move Money’, ‘Manage’ and then ‘Standing orders’ and ‘Amend/Cancel’.

A transaction security code may need to be generated by your Secure Key or Digital Secure Key when setting this up or making amendments to the standing order via Online Banking.

Once you have successfully set up the destination details, it will show in your list of standing orders and Direct Debits immediately.

If you need more information about a specific standing order, you can chat with us in our App - go to 'Help' and select 'Chat now'. Or in Online Banking, select 'Message us'.

If you need to change the date of a standing order, you will need to cancel the existing standing order and set up a new one from Online Banking or our App. You can do this by selecting the account the standing order is set up on ‘Manage Money’, ‘Regular payments’, Choose the standing order you wish to cancel and select ‘Cancel’. (Make sure you keep a note of all the details you want to re-set up). To set up a new Standing order you would select the 1st Account you want the standing order to be set up on, ‘Move Money’, ‘New standing order’ and input all the details again with the required amendments.

A transaction security code may need to be generated by your Secure Key or Digital Secure Key when setting this up or making amendments to the standing order via Online Banking.

If you need more information about a specific standing order, you can chat with us in our App - go to 'Help' and select 'Chat now'. Or in Online Banking, select 'Message us'.

You can change the amount of your standing order by going to ‘Manage Money’ and ‘Regular Payments’ within Online Banking or our App.

If you have any questions, please chat with us in our App - go to 'Help' and select 'Chat now'. Or in Online Banking, select 'Message us'.

You can cancel a standing order through Online Banking or our App by selecting the 1st Account that the standing order is set up on, then ‘Manage money’, ‘Regular payments’, choose the standing order you wish to cancel and then ‘Cancel’.

You have until 23.59 (UK time) on the working day before the payment is due to be made, to cancel it.

A Direct Debit is a safe and quick way to pay bills, subscriptions etc. automatically from a bank account.

It is an agreement between you and the company who is to be paid (the originator) to instruct us to send money from your account to the recipient. Unlike a standing order, the amount paid and the frequency under a Direct Debit can change and is controlled by the recipient however they must inform you of any changes to the agreement. 

If you wish to cancel the Direct Debit you can do so at any time through first direct but you must also let the originator know.

first direct have no control over Direct Debits with the exception of accepting and cancelling mandates.

To set up a Direct Debit, you should first contact the company you wish to make the payments to (the originator). They will ask you to sign a Direct Debit mandate (an instruction) which gives permission for first direct to allow the recipient to claim payments from your 1st Account. When we receive the details from the recipient, we will set up the Direct Debit instruction on your account. Once the agreement is in place, the recipient will be able to collect the payments from your account.

You can update a Direct Debit by contacting the originator. first direct can only cancel a Direct Debit. If you wish to do this and the payment is due within the next 2 working days please call us on 03 456 100 100 (Text-phone 03 456 100 147 or if calling from outside the UK +44 113 234 5678 (Text Relay +44 151 494 1260)). If the payment is not due then you can cancel this in Online Banking or our App. You must let the originator know that you have cancelled to avoid late payment or default notices. 

You cannot transfer a Direct Debit to another bank unless you are switching your account to another bank using the Current Account Switch Service. In order to complete this you should contact the bank you wish to transfer to.

If you are wanting to transfer a Direct Debit between for example two 1st Accounts then you can do this by calling us on 03 456 100 100 (Text-phone 03 456 100 147 or if calling from outside the UK +44 113 234 5678 (Text Relay +44 151 494 1260)).

If you wish to cancel a Direct Debit and the payment is due in the next 2 working days please call us on 03 456 100 100 (Text-phone 03 456 100 147 or if calling from outside the UK +44 113 234 5678 (Text Relay +44 151 494 1260)).

If the payment is not due then you can cancel this on our App or through Online Banking. You can do this by selecting the 1st Account the Direct Debit is set up on, ‘Manage Money’, ’Regular payments’, select the Direct Debit you wish to cancel and ‘Cancel’.  Although there are no guarantees that the payment can be cancelled we will try. Please ensure that you let the originator know to avoid late payment fees or duplicate payments.