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Pay in a cheque, pay in and withdraw cash

For all those other things such as being able to pay in a cheque, pay in cash and withdrawing cash, this is how we can help.

Pay in a cheque

Use the mobile app

You can now pay in a cheque anytime, any place using your compatible phone.

Cheques that are paid in before 10pm on a working day using the app will be available by 11:59pm the next working day, providing it's not been returned unpaid.

You can pay in up to £2000 a day in cheques using the App, with each individual cheque limited to £2000.

All you need to do to pay in a cheque is tap the more options menu (tap the three dots) on the account you'd like to pay your cheque into, then select 'Pay in a cheque' from the menu.

Once you have done this then enter the amount that is on the cheque, scan the front and back of it and submit this to us. It’s easy as that and you don’t need to post them in anymore or go to a branch or the post office.

If you have any questions about paying in a cheque in the app, see our FAQs for more information.

Post them into us

You can use your own envelope or chat with us in our App - go to 'Help' and select 'Chat now'. Or in Online Banking, select 'Message us'.

first direct, PO Box 1538, Northampton, NN1 9HY.

You can use your own envelope or chat with us in our App - go to 'Help' and select 'Chat now'. Or in Online Banking, select 'Message us'.

Don’t forget to also include a paying-in slip or to write your account details on the back so we know where to pay the money.

In a branch

We don't have branches - but our friends over at HSBC do. So if you need to pay in cheques, you can drop into your local branch. You can pay in at the counter or you can use the cheque deposit machine by inputting your sort code and account number onto the keypad.

Find an HSBC Branch

At the Post Office®

You can pay in cheques using a pre-printed first direct credit slip from your paying-in book. You'll also need an HSBC Post Office® cheque deposit envelope, which you'll find on the Post Office® counter (don’t put cash in these envelopes). Cheques paid into the Post Office® may take a little longer to clear, compared to paying in on our Mobile App or at an HSBC branch.

To find your nearest Post Office® or check opening times:

Branch Finder | Post Office Opens an overlay [Will show a security message first]

At a Banking Hub

Banking Hubs are a dedicated counter service where customers of major banks and building societies can access everyday banking services.

The Banking Hub counter will offer the same banking services you would expect in a Post Office branch, to allow you to take care of your everyday banking needs. These include depositing a cheque, balance enquiries, and withdrawing cash or paying cash into your account.

HSBC Local | Ways To Bank - HSBC UK

Paying in or withdrawing cash

In a branch

At HSBC Full Service Branches, Cash Service Branches and Banking Hubs you can pay in cash over the counter. You won't be able to use the self-service paying in machines.

You can withdraw cash at the ATM or over the counter free of charge. You'll need to arrange a withdrawal via the counter by calling us anytime on 03 456 100 100.

At the Post Office®

If you have a 1st Account, you can use your debit card at any of the 11,500 UK Post Office® locations across the UK to:

check your balance
pay in
withdraw cash

You can pay in up to £3,000 per day and a total of £20,000 each year at the Post Office®*. To deposit more than this you need to visit a Full Service Branch or Cash Service Branch at HSBC**.

Find an HSBC Branch

Cash withdrawals will count to your daily limit.

You can also pay in coins over the counter up to the value of £250 per transaction. Just ensure they are bagged by denomination.

To find your nearest Post Office® or check opening times:

Branch Finder | Post Office Opens an overlay [Will show a security message first]

With effect from 3rd December 2024:

* This does not include Post Offices in Channel Island or Isle of Man (CIIOM).

** This does not include HSBC Branches in Channel Island or Isle of Man (CIIOM).

At a Banking Hub

Banking Hubs are a dedicated counter service where customers of major banks and building societies can access everyday banking services.

HSBC Local | Ways To Bank - HSBC UK

Your access to cash

It’s important to us that you’re able to pay-in and withdraw cash locally without charge.

To do this, use the LiNK Cash Locator Opens an overlay [Will show a security message first] to find your nearest free-to-use cash machines, Post Office, Banking Hub and shops offering cashback.

If you still feel like you can’t easily access the cash services you need locally, you can request a Cash Access Assessment Opens an overlay [Will show a security message first].

Our partners, LiNK, carry out all assessments on our behalf.

You can also write to LiNK requesting a Cash Access Assessment at Link Scheme Ltd (Cash Access Request), Central House, Otley Road, Harrogate, HG3 1UF. They’ll acknowledge your written request within 72-hours of receipt. They’ll also ask if you’re looking to take out or pay in cash, if you’re a personal or business customer, and what services you’d like to see in your local area.

LiNK welcome requests from anyone in the local community, including members of the public, elected officials, community groups, charities supporting the local area, and local businesses.

What’s a Cash Access Assessment?

When is a Cash Access Assessment completed?

A Cash Access Assessment will be done by LiNK if:

a firm closes a cash service in your local area
a firm reduces the cash service in your local area eg they close a till or reduce the opening hours in which you can access cash
there’s a Cash Access request.

Only one assessment can be completed in a local area in any 12-month period.

You can check if LiNK have already assessed your area by visiting the LiNK assessments page Opens an overlay [Will show a security message first]. If LiNK have already received a Cash Access Assessment for your local area but not yet completed it, they’ll tell you.

When would a Cash Access Assessment not be completed?

A Cash Access Assessment wouldn’t be completed if:

a firm is removing some cash machines but not all, leaving cash machines the community can still use
a firm is no longer closing or reducing a cash service
the person requesting the assessment doesn’t have sufficient interest in the local area eg they don’t live or work there, or support the area
the request for an assessment is withdrawn
an assessment has already been done for the same local area, covering the same cash services, in the last 12 months or is currently being done.

Are there any times when an assessment can be done more than once in a year?

What are the possible outcomes?

There are two possible outcomes following a Cash Access Assessment:

LiNK determine there are adequate Cash Access services in the local area and no further action is taken
LiNK determine there’s a shortage of cash services and it has a significant impact on the local area. They then recommend that additional cash services be provided, which may include:
- a new free-to-use cash machine that you can pay in or take out cash
- improvements to make it easier to pay in or take out cash at your local Post Office
- some local areas may get a new Banking Hub.

The outcome of a Cash Access Assessment will be published on LiNK's website within 12 weeks of receiving the request. You can find out more about the processes LiNK use on their Request Access to Cash page Opens an overlay [Will show a security message first].

If your local area is to receive a new cash service, this will be available within 12 weeks of the published assessment outcome.

Review of the Cash Access Assessment

If you feel the assessment didn’t consider important information that may have impacted the outcome, you can submit a formal request for LiNK to review the outcome within 28 days of LiNK publishing the assessment.

In order to undertake a review LiNK would need either:

new information that wasn’t considered during the assessment
the correction of any inaccuracies that may have impacted the outcome of the assessment.

You can request that LiNK review their decision here Opens an overlay [Will show a security message first] or by sending a letter to Link Scheme Ltd (Cash Access Request), Central House, Otley Road, Harrogate, HG3 1UF.

If LiNK do carry out a review, they must complete it within 12 weeks.

Complaints

If you still have concerns following the outcome of the Cash Access Assessment review, you can raise a complaint Opens an overlay [Will show a security message first] directly to LiNK. You can also submit a complaint in writing to LiNK at Link Scheme (Complaints Manager) Central House, Otley Road, Harrogate, HG3 1UF, or email complaints@link.co.uk Opens an overlay [Will show a security message first].

If you have concerns relating to how first direct or HSBC offer cash services, or about the delivery of new services, you can raise a complaint with us directly.

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