DAVID Dick lives in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire and banks with First Direct.

"I chose First Direct several years ago because it was one of the pioneers of internet banking. I wanted ease of access and it seemed to fit the bill," he says.

Mr Dick, a 37-year-old national accounts manager, regularly uses the overdraft facility on his joint account. He says: "My partner and I are paid at different times of the month, so we often use our overdraft to tide us over the pay gap. It's very easy to manage and the bank is always helpful."

The bank is also understanding. "First direct has on occasion refunded the charges if we have made a genuine mistake or we were overdrawn for less than 24 hours. The staff are happy to listen and treat you well."

The HSBC-owned bank offers a £100 incentive for people tempted to switch, as do the Cooperative and M&S Bank. But Moneycomms notes that the benefit quickly wears off if you keep a sizeable balance in your account. It says if you do, you would be better off with Tesco Bank, TSB, Santander or Lloyds - customer service issues aside.