No current account if you share a letterbox

FIRST Direct is refusing customers bank accounts if they share a letterbox, due to fraud.

The bank rejects a current account application if it says they share a letterbox. It says this is to prevent theft of posted cards, statements or PINs.

Saskia Harrison says she was turned down as she shares one with an 80-year-old neighbour. In 20 years he has never opened her mail. The bank said it wouldn’t close an account if it later found out a letterbox was shared, or reject those who share with flatmates.

First Direct says this has been its policy for several years. No other major banks are understood to do the same.

A spokesman for First Direct says: ‘We are reviewing our policy to provide a solution to customers in this situation.’