First Direct has joined the social networking ranks with the launch of its own community site called Little Black Book.

The community site, the first from a UK bank, is a place where customers can log on and share information from recommendations to reviews of local shops, restaurants, boutiques and interesting places to visit.

Little Black Book was trialled with 20,000 of the bank's most active online customers and has now been made available to all customers.

It is a sophisticated site and uses up-to-date services such as Google Maps, email notifications and RSS feeds.

Once logged in, customers can search reviews by postcodes and add to existing entries or simply browse the site.

The site ties in with the growth of online banking, with nearly
half of all UK bank customers conducting their business online.

Mark Mullen from First Direct said the drive to set up Little Black Book came from its customers.

"They are an extremely savvy bunch when it comes to the internet and this innovative development recognises this," Mullen said.

www.littleblackbook.firstdirect.com
www.apacs.org.uk

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