First direct has launched an online portal where members of the public can shape products and services before they are officially released.
The first direct Lab will have content added each month, giving visitors the chance to see what the bank is planning and critique it through a comment facility and forum.
The initial plans up for discussion are a Web site re-design, a consultation on the use of QR codes and an early version of a mortgage comparison smartphone app.
Paul Say, head, marketing, first direct, says: "We're constantly looking at new ways of communicating with customers and the public, and the first direct Lab is a natural progression for us. We want people to inform our offering and in doing so help us serve them better."
The Beta Labs initiative follows the launch last year of Talking Points, a public online forum for customer feedback.