Web watch

First Direct, the bank that pioneered telephone banking more than a decade ago, unveiled details of its internet offering last week. Customers of First Direct will get a better deal on their savings and mortgages if they switch to the online service. First Direct is also offering internet customers 24-hour access to staff.

The firstdirect.com current account is paying up to 5 per cent but, as one of its competitors, the Co-op's Smile, pointed out, this rate applies only on balances of £5,000 or more. On balances up to £999, firstdirect.com pays just 1 per cent, compared with Smile's 4.75 per cent and 4.5 per cent from Abbey National's cahoot internet bank. However, even at 1 per cent, firstdirect.com is paying substantially more than its telephone sister account, where all balances earn just 0.1 per cent.

Rates on the savings account are also more attractive than on the telephone equivalent, starting at 5 per cent for balances up to £5,000 and rising to 6 per cent on £100,000. The overdraft rate is 10.9 per cent, against 12.6 per cent on borrowing up to £250 in the telephone account and 16.9 per cent on more than £250.

The account is available now to personal computer users, and First Direct aims to extend it to Apple Mac users and Wap phones in August. Television banking is scheduled for the autumn.

Sharedealing services continue to sprout on the internet. Abbey National's service will deal for investors who hold certificates for their shares (rather than holding them electronically through a nominee account) and will charge £16 for deals up to £1,000; £25 up to £2,500 and £39.50 for deals worth more than £2,500. You can register to use the service by calling 0800 169 3377, and Abbey says a dealing account number will be issued within minutes. Egg, the internet bank 80 per cent owned by the Prudential, has issued details of its online dealing service, which will cost £9.99 per deal, up to a maximum of £50,000, with a £5 monthly administration fee.

Would-be house buyers, or owners seeking to remortgage, now have access to a vast range of research services that will shop around on their behalf. Broker John Charcol is offering first-time buyers advice on surveys, finding a solicitor and the mechanics of conveyancing, in addition to a mortgage-finder service. Charcol hopes shortly to launch an 'email me when' service alerting customers about new deals which suit their requirements; it also plans internet conveyancing.

Personal finance website Moneyextra is launching a service to help credit card users work out which is the best deal for them.