The bank, part of HSBC group, which consistently tops customer service polls, issued a statement on its website which read: “The coronavirus is effecting everyone’s lives and we want to make sure we are doing all we can to support our customers and our people.

“This means we need to focus our attention on our existing customers and their immediate financial needs. To make sure our people are able to do this, we have taken the decision to withdraw First Direct current accounts to new customers.

“We hope this will only be a temporary measure.”

Earlier this week HSBC pulled its £175 current account switch offer.

It also increased the interest free buffer on overdrafts from £25 to £300 for a three-month period to help customers affected by the coronavirus outbreak.