Nationwide current accounts for April 2024

Great customer service

No spending analysis tools in its app

Nationwide offers better conditions to its current account holders than most banks, as well as 24/7 customer service and a widespread network of branches, if you like sorting things out in person.

Compare Nationwide current accounts

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Name	Product	Finder score	Account fees	Funding requirement	Interest (AER)	Arranged overdraft	Incentive	Representative example	Link
FlexBasic Account FlexBasic Account Finder Award		Not yet rated	£0	No minimum funding requirement	0% AER				View details		loading Fetching your data...
FlexDirect Account FlexDirect Account Finder Award		Not yet rated	£0	Min. £1000 Per Month	5% AER	39.9% EAR variable	Eligible for Member Credit Card.	Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 39.9% EAR variable.	View details		loading Fetching your data...
FlexAccount Account FlexAccount Account Finder Award		4.3 ★★★★★	£0	No minimum funding requirement	0% AER	39.9% EAR variable	Eligible for Member Credit Card.	Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 39.9% EAR variable.	View details		loading Fetching your data...
FlexPlus Account FlexPlus Account Finder Award		Not yet rated	£13 per month	No minimum funding requirement	0% AER	39.9% EAR variable	Free travel accident insurance – covers account holder and family (also when travelling independently).	Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 39.9% EAR variable. Account fee of £13 per month.	View details		loading Fetching your data...
FlexOne Account FlexOne Account Finder Award		4.3 ★★★★★	£0	No minimum funding requirement	2% AER		Comes with linked FlexOne Saver account.		View details		loading Fetching your data...
FlexGraduate Account FlexGraduate Account Finder Award		Not yet rated	£0	No minimum funding requirement	0% AER				View details		loading Fetching your data...
FlexStudent Account FlexStudent Account Finder Award		Not yet rated	£0	Min. £500 per term	0% AER	N/A			View details		loading Fetching your data...

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Types of current accounts from Nationwide

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

  The main benefit of Nationwide’s incentive accounts is that they pay an interest rate (yes, you’ve heard that right) on balances up to £1,500 for 12 months. You can choose between a free account with a great introductory offer and an account with loads of insurance benefits that also pays more in the long run in return for a monthly fee.
  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 a nice little interest rate on your balance. 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

• 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

Expert test: I tried out Nationwide’s FlexDirect current account

Kate Steere

Editor

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.

The benefits of banking with Nationwide

• Switching incentives. You’ll often find the building society offering a switching incentive to new customers.
• Interest rate on balances. That’s probably Nationwide’s strongest selling point – most 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.

Customer service information for Nationwide

Nationwide customer reviews

Nationwide was ranked 6 out of 17 current account providers in our independent 2024 customer satisfaction survey, with 96% of Nationwide customers saying they’d recommend it to a friend. Users highlighted its helpful staff and reliable service.

One customer commented: “Nationwide is an ethical building society and it’s all about its members/customers. They reward loyalty and are very competitive. They have high street branches if you need them and are very customer focused and friendly.”

Another customer said “The FlexAccount is the best for my needs.”

On the Apple App Store, Nationwide scored 4.8 out of 5 from nearly 600k reviews. On the Google Pay Store, it scored 4.2 out 5 stars, from a total of 100k+ reviews (last updated February 2024).

Our verdict: Is Nationwide any good?

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

• Can I have two Nationwide current accounts?

  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.

• Does Nationwide pay interest on current accounts?

  Yes, it does! Nationwide’s FlexDirect, FlexPlus, FlexStudent and FlexOne current accounts all pay some kind of interest on balances.

• What are Nationwide's current account terms and conditions?

  You can find them on Nationwide’s website here.