National Westminster Bank, better known as NatWest, offers unsecured personal loans to existing customers at fixed interest rates.
A standard fixture of British high streets since the 1968 merger of National Provincial Bank and Westminster Bank, NatWest is now part of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group – one of the “Big Four” UK banks.
Whether you’re looking to buy a new car, consolidate debt, refurbish the kitchen, or take that desperately needed holiday, NatWest offers competitive and flexible fixed-rate loans.
While many of its competitors cap personal loans at £25,000, NatWest provides personal loans of up to £50,000. However, in order to take out a NatWest personal loan you do have to have your current account with NatWest.
How do NatWest personal loans compare against the competition’s?
Before you take out a personal loan, it’s smart to read up and shop around. You can use the tool below to check the actual rates you’d be likely to be offered from a range of popular lenders, and the monthly/overall costs.
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Key features of NatWest personal loans at a glance
- Loan amounts from £1,000 to £50,000.
- Loan terms from 1-8 years. Or 1-5 years for loan loan amounts less than £7,500.
- Longer terms available if the loan is for home improvements. You may be asked to provide evidence that the loan is for a home improvement.
- Fixed monthly repayments. The interest rate is fixed, meaning you’ll pay the same amount each month, so there are no surprises and you know how much the loan is going to cost you overall.
- Get a personalised quick quote with no impact on your credit rating. View your personalised interest rate and monthly payment calculation.
- Online decision in minutes. NatWest will even pre-fill your application, saving you time.
- Receive funds the next working day. If you use online banking. Subject to approval.
These personal loans are unsecured – meaning they’re be based on creditworthiness, rather than the use of property or other assets as collateral.
The loans are available over a period of 1-5 years for amounts between £1,000 and £7,499, or over a period of 1-8 years for amounts between £7,500 and £50,000. In cases where the loan is specifically for home improvements, you can apply for an extended term of up to 10 years (you may be asked to provide evidence that the loan is for a home improvement).
While NatWest’s rates are normally competitive, the representative APR may not be the rate you’ll receive: NatWest will offer you a rate based on assessment of your personal financial circumstances.
What is APR?
If you’re comparing any credit-based products, it won’t be long before you’ll come across the Annual Percentage Rate (APR). This figure is designed to provide an annual summary of the cost of a loan. It takes into account both interest and any mandatory charges to be paid (for example an arrangement fee) over the duration of a loan.All lenders must calculate the APR of their products in the same way, and must tell you the APR before you sign an agreement, so for consumers it can be a handy tool for comparison.
Bear in mind, however, that lenders are only obliged to award this rate to 51% of those who take out the loan – the other 49% could pay more. That’s why it’s often referred to as the representative APR.
Am I eligible for a NatWest personal loan?
You should only apply for a NatWest personal loan if you’re certain you can meet the repayment terms, and you meet the following criteria:
- You must be aged 18 or over.
- You must hold a NatWest current account.
- You must not have been declared bankrupt in the last 6 years.
- Your loan request must be for an acceptable purpose. Check online for NatWest’s unacceptable loan purposes.
How do I apply?
If you’ve decided that a personal loan is right for you, you’ll normally need to provide proof of the following:
- Your ID.
- Your address details for the past three years.
- Your current income and employment details (payslips and bank statements).
However because NatWest personal loans are only available to NatWest current account holders, if that includes you, you may not need to jump through so many hoops! What’s more, if you use online banking already, NatWest will complete much of the application form on your behalf.
Frequently asked questions
*Disclaimer: The offers compared on this page are chosen from a range of products whose details Finder has access to track; they don't represent all the products available in the market. Unless indicated otherwise, products are displayed in no particular order or ranking. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations) are not product ratings and are subject to our terms of use. You should consider seeking independent financial advice and consider your personal financial circumstances when comparing products.
