First Direct gets iPhone-ready

Online and telephone bank First Direct has announced that its service is compatible with Apple's iPhone, which launches in the UK on 9 November.

iPhone customers will be able to "seamlessly" connect to the First Direct website, according to the company, and will benefit from the device's touchscreen and fully-functional web browser.

The bank already offers its customers text and mobile phone banking services.

Chris Pilling, chief executive of First Direct, said: "When we launched in 1989 we were known for our unprecedented use of technology, which allowed our customers to contact us 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and for our exceptional service.

"Eighteen years on, we are still using cutting-edge technology to make life easier for British consumers," continued Pilling.

Though First Direct initially launched as a telephone bank, many of its customers now use the web to manage their finances.

"We currently have over 875,000 internet banking users, and by working with the iPhone we will be giving our customers the opportunity of doing their banking when, where and how they want to," said Pilling.

Online banking has been under scrutiny recently with Egg's service suffering a temporary blackout and Northern Rock's website overwhelmed by a spike of visitors after it had to take a sizeable loan from the Bank of England.

www.firstdirect.com

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