One of the few financial institutions that offer both an interest rate and a switching incentive on current accounts, Nationwide is a very competitive option for your everyday banking.
Nationwide offers competitive deals to its current account holders and a widespread network of branches, if you like sorting things out in person. From time to time, Nationwide has been known to run switching incentives.
To make comparing even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Fees, features and customer service across 20+ of the most popular banks are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score the better the account – simple.
Nationwide has a decent range of current accounts you can choose among, although it doesn’t offer any premium account options for high-end customers.
Incentive accounts
Nationwide’s FlexDirect account pays interest (yes, you’ve heard that right) on balances up to £1,500 for 12 months, and there’s no monthly fee to pay. You also get 1% cashback on spending for the first year. Alternatively, you can choose the FlexPlus account that charges a monthly fee but offers loads of insurance benefits and access to exclusive savings accounts. Learn more about reward and incentive accounts
Student accounts
You can get up to £3,000 of fee-free overdraft with Nationwide’s student account plus fee-free spending on your debit card abroad. However, if you’re after free railcards and discounts, compare accounts from other institutions – student accounts have the best benefits, so you may as well enjoy them until uni’s over and you’re thrown into your not-so-exciting adult life. Learn more about student accounts
Graduate accounts
The Nationwide student account automatically converts to a FlexGraduate account after your uni course ends. This also offers an interest-free overdraft. Learn more about graduate accounts
Children’s accounts
With Nationwide FlexOne, children aged 11-17 can get an early start at managing their finances and also earn some interest on their balance. If you have smaller kids, try comparing children’s current accounts – with some institutions they can open one when they’re as young as 8 years old. Learn more about children’s accounts
Hands-on test: I tried out Nationwide’s FlexDirect current account
"Nationwide is a solid choice for a current account. However, I wouldn’t say there was anything exceptional worth mentioning in terms of features. The app is straightforward and easy to use and any interactions I’ve had with customer service have always been positive. One frustration I have is the requirement to sometimes use a card reader to set up a new payee, which is not always doable when I am out and about.
Where Nationwide does stand out is how it rewards its customers. I’ve benefited from initiatives like its supermarket cashback offer during 2023 and its Fairer Share Payment to members, which have been a nice addition to a dependable banking experience."
Switching incentives. You’ll often find the building society offering a switching incentive to new customers, but it also offers incentives to existing customers.
Interest rate on balances. That’s probably Nationwide’s strongest selling point – many of its accounts pay some kind of interest rates on balances. FlexDirect’s introductory offer (5% up to £1,500 for the first 12 months) is among the top rates available on the market.
Multiple ways to bank. Nationwide has more than 650 branches across the UK, but you can also manage your accounts on the phone, online or using the mobile app.
Mobile Banking App. Easy to use and straightforward, it allows you to constantly stay on top of your finances and also to set savings goals.
Global acceptance. Nationwide’s debit cards are on the Visa network, so the vast majority of merchants around the world will take them.
Round-the-clock assistance. If you have an emergency, for example because your card is stolen, you can call Nationwide 24/7 and they’ll be able to sort it out for you.
A wide range of related products. If you need a savings account, a credit card, a loan, a mortgage or investments and insurance products, Nationwide has got you covered.
Opening an account with Nationwide
To open an account with Nationwide, you’ll have to provide the following information:
How much you expect to pay in each month
Your salary details and any assets you have
Your employment status
Your business account details if you’re self-employed
Your nationality/citizenship
Your residence status/tax residence status
Proof of identity
You can open a Nationwide account online or by visiting a branch – if you apply online, you may be asked to pop into a branch to provide proof of identity.
Does Nationwide offer any promotions, discounts or refer-a-friend offers?
Yes, Nationwide often offers switching deals, but it’s not currently offering any (April 2025).
Does Nationwide offer joint accounts?
Yes, Nationwide lets 2 people open a joint account. You can open it online or in a branch.
Does Nationwide offer premium/packaged or premier accounts?
Yes, Nationwide’s FlexPlus account is a popular packaged account, offering a range of insurance products for the whole family in return for a monthly fee.
Customer service information for Nationwide
Email support
Telephone support
In-app or live chat
Contact form
Branch support
Nationwide customer reviews
Nationwide was ranked 8 out of 20 current account providers in our independent 2025 customer satisfaction survey, with 89% of Nationwide customers saying they’d recommend it to a friend. Users highlighted its helpful staff and reliable service.
One customer commented: “Problem free banking, good website, it’s a mutual so I get to vote, and they have paid customers £100 if their profits were good.”
Another customer said “Easy to use app and website, local branch, great products.”
On Trustpilot, Nationwide scores 1.9 out of 5 from around 6,900 reviews. On the Apple App Store, it has a rating of 4.8 out of 5 from over 628,000 reviews, while its Google Play Store rating is 3.9 out 5, from a more than 112,000 reviews. These were updated in April 2025.
Our verdict: Is Nationwide a good bank?
Nationwide currently offers current accounts with the some of the highest available interest rates. If you’re looking to earn interest on an in-credit balance, these accounts are certainly worth investigating. If Nationwide’s current accounts are not for you, you can also compare other current accounts here.
Frequently asked questions
Yes! There’s no limit to the number of accounts you can open. Remember though to check out the competition and be wary of opening multiple accounts just to use features like overdrafts.
Yes, it does! Nationwide’s FlexDirect, FlexStudent and FlexOne current accounts all pay some kind of interest on balances.
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Valentina Cipriani was a writer at Finder UK. She wrote news, features and guides about banking and credit cards, helping people to improve their financial lives. She holds an MA in International Journalism. See full bio
Jason is a writer and editor. He worked as a senior subeditor for Finder for 5 years and in that time became familiar with a wide range of financial products and services. Before that, he worked for Australian Associated Press. He has a BA from Macquarie University in Australia. Jason loves to help other people find new ways to save money. See full bio
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