Nationwide customers might get a free £100 in June, according to Money Saving Expert (Image: Getty)
Nationwide customers could be due a free £100 later this year if they meet certain criteria. The cash bonus is set to be announced in May, but will likely depend on whether you qualify earlier in the year.
Over the past three years, Nationwide has given some existing customers a £100 bonus, known as “fairer share”. Last year, a total of £400 million was paid to four million Nationwide members.
But, as mentioned, there are criteria in place that need to be met. In an update, the team at Money Saving Expert (MSE), explained what you need to do to be eligible.
Firstly, they warned that the money is “not guaranteed”. The MSE website said: “It’s likely, though not guaranteed, to do the same again this year.
In previous years, the scheme has been announced in May and paid in June, though whether you got it depended on if you met the qualifying criteria in January, February and/or March – so now’s the perfect time to maximise your chances.
Last year, a total of £400 million was paid to four million Nationwide members (Image: Getty)
“Though January has passed, you could still qualify by meeting the conditions for February and/or March – see below for what you’ll likely need to do to get the payment if you’re an existing customer.” MSE added: “We don’t yet know if Fairer Share payments will definitely happen again in 2026 – Nationwide told us that, as in previous years, the final decision ‘will be announced as part of [its] full year results in May’.”
How to qualify
Assuming the building society keeps the same criteria as last year, these are the criteria to check.
“Firstly, don’t close your Nationwide current account,” MSE said. “Well, at least not until 31 March 2026. And secondly, use your current account in the first three months of this year (January, February, March). Even if you didn’t do this in January, you still have options. What you need to do to qualify depends on which current account you have.”
FlexAccount, FlexBasic or FlexDirect
If you have a FlexAccount, FlexBasic or FlexDirect account you need to:
- Either – In two of the first three months of this year, pay in at least £500 from a non-Nationwide account (this could be your salary, for example) and make two payments out of your account;
- Or In two of the first three months of the year, make 10 or more payments out of your account;
- Or if you can’t do the above, between 1 January and 31 March 2026, complete a full current account switch from another provider to Nationwide
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FlexOne, FlexGraduate or FlexStudent
If you have a FlexOne, FlexGraduate or FlexStudent account you need to:
- Either in March 2026, make a payment in from a non-Nationwide account or make a payment out of your account;
- Or complete a full current account switch to Nationwide FlexOne or FlexStudent (not FlexGraduate) between 1 January and 31 March 2026
FlexPlus packaged account
For this, you just need to pay the monthly fee. It’s important to know that payments in must be from a non-Nationwide account. Payments out can include debit card transactions, Direct Debits, bank transfers and standing orders (but not transfers to other Nationwide accounts you have).
On top of these rules, regardless of the type of account you have, you must ensure you have at least £100 in savings or owe at least £100 on a mortgage with Nationwide in March 2026.
For more information, visit the MSE website here.
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