First Direct gets transparent through social media

LONDON - Internet bank First Direct has launched a dedicated website that will collate live comments made about the brand by internet users in a bid to overcome perceptions that banks lack transparency.

First Direct has gone heavy on social media
First Direct has gone heavy on social media

 

The , whch was created by , does not filter out negative comments, although it will not publish profanities, a spokeswoman for First Direct said.

The bank claims its social media initiative will showcase all consumer opinions made about the bank, by aggregating comments from 8m social media sites

The site features a buzz monitoring tool called 'Live feelings about First Direct', an application that feeds live comments about the brand and 'Talking Point' - an area where consumers can let the bank know what they think of its customer service.

The launch is backed up by research commissioned by the bank, which found that 80 per cent of UK internet users are now using social media at least once per month, while 53 per cent are now creating and actively sharing content online.

The research also found that First Direct is the 14th most open and honest brand, with Lloyds, Natwest, and HSBC all appearing higher up in the list. The table was topped by Google, with Amazon in second place.

Lisa Wood, head of marketing at First Direct, said: "It's a move not many brands, let alone banks, would be able to do but this research clearly shows that customers expect openness and honesty in the businesses they trust and recommend."

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