The Nationwide Building Society is one of the best building societies available and there must be a branch in every high street in the country with a range of services that are always expanding and the existing facilities getting better! I've had an account with Nationwide for the whole of ... Read review
Advantages: Excellent Internet Banking and customer service Disadvantages: Upgrading a current account, please read review!
The Nationwide Building Society is one of the best building societies available and there must be a branch in every high street in the country with a range of services that are always expanding and the existing facilities getting better! I've had an account with Nationwide for the whole of my life and I have opened another five different ones in the last seven years. They are competitive and I wouldn't want to go anywhere else. I have highlighted ... ...owned, Nationwide services, the award winning Internet Banking service, customer service, what my future is with Nationwide and problems I have encountered.
The first account I personally opened was a Smart account which is a savings/current
account for under 18's, they have lots of different types of savings and current accounts which are available for sort's of age groups and people in
different situations. The smart ... more
The Nationwide Building Society is one of the best building societies available and there must be a branch in every high street in the country with a range of services that are always expanding and the existing facilities getting better! I've had an account with Nationwide for the whole of my life and I have opened another five different ones in the last seven years. They are competitive and I wouldn't want to go anywhere else. I have highlighted my experiences in this review including the accounts I have owned, Nationwide services, the award winning Internet Banking service, customer service, what my future is with Nationwide and problems I have encountered.
The first account I personally opened was a Smart account which is a savings/current account for under 18's, they have lots of different types of savings and current accounts which are available for sort's of age groups and people in different situations. The smart account is one they still do, and I strongly recommend it for anyone under 18, it has competitive rates and you can learn to handle your money with the cash card you get for withdrawing money. Once I was older than 18, I was given the option to open a Flexaccount, which is a current account and is very useful, the account comes with three options of a having an account with a cash card, cheque book or debit card. Each stage can be upgraded on as you get older and your financial situation is better. Once you have a Flexaccount, you have an option to have a online banking account called E-Savings, which is only available when you activate your online service, the interest rates are great. I also have an ISA, which is a great account with more great interest rates. Opening of new accounts is really easy, it is done by filling in the correct forms that you can print off from online or from a branch of Nationwide, opening an account requires two items of proof that you are who you say you are. After having your first account makes it easier for any other accounts you might like to have after. Security isn't as tight when wanting another account and only one piece of identification is needed.
Nationwide offers an award winning Internet banking service and is unbelievable. You have complete control over your accounts and it is so easy to use. I'm always using it and it is getting better all the time. I don't know what I would do without my Internet banking account. Only one you have an Internet Banking account with Nationwide are you offered an E-Savings account, which offers some of the best interest rates around. Direct debits, standing orders and applying for lots of different things can be done online. I strongly recommend having this building society as your Internet bank. The design is great and compared to some others I have seen, this is surely the best. With high emphasis on a safe and secure web site, you have to log in using an account number, a rememberable piece of data and a password.
The customer service offered by Nationwide is excellent. The service continues across the board from walking into a branch, telephone enquiries or online help, you are sure to have a great experience. Don't you find that in all customer service places (i.e. Banks and Post Offices) there is always a grumpy employee?
I can see myself using Nationwide in future, especially for travel insurance. I've got a long financial life ahead of me and see myself using Nationwide as my first source for any financial information. I started a pension plan with another bank, and really regret it now, I wish it could have been with Nationwide.
The only problem I have ever had with Nationwide was when I tried upgrading my Flexaccount so that I could have a debit card, I tried four times over eighteen months, only to be denied. The strange thing is, I opened another Flexaccount and was granted a debit card straight away?strange.
I don't completing understand about interest rates and everything else that comes with banking. It is a worrying thought that banks are not paying out higher enough interest rates, it was in the news a few weeks ago that someone who knows what they are doing could get ten times the interest. But I am confident with Nationwide. I have had any questions answered by the staff in an understanding way. Interest rates and such are always changing as well as offers (if that is what the right word is) and it really pays off the check in a branch or online to see if they are offering something that you will be better off with. Nationwide is a great building society, it will be worth a visit.
Here are the main offerings from Nationwide each expanding out into plenty of other categories.
Internet Banking Credit Cards Insurance Investments Loans Mortgages Pensions Savings
Advantages: Cheapest way to have foreign cash and make purchases Disadvantages: Without a backup source of money or payment system, if it fails for whatever reason, then you could have a problem. But that applies to whatever method chosen. The foreign bank that owns the ATM could charge a handling fee, but that applies to all cards.
...make sure you have a Nationwide FlexAccount.
If you don’t already have one, OPEN ONE!
It only takes a £1
Why? I hear you ask.
Well it is the most cost efficient method of obtaining foreign currency abroad.
It is also the cheapest method of paying for goods and services where a debit card can be used.
The reason it that the Nationwide does not levy any additional fees or charges for using the card abroad.
They treat it exactly the same ... ...digress.
THE REASON WHY NATIONWIDE IS BEST.
Until the weekend I only knew that they didn’t levy certain charges that other card issuers did.
The Nationwide “didn’t think that they should charge you to gain access to your own money.”
Well here are the details.
There tends to be 2 fees.
The first is a “published” “handling fee” of around 2.25%, usually subject to a maximum of £4 or £5.
My experience ...
quoia 17.07.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Nationwide Building Society Accounts
Advantages: No foreign exchange charges on FlexAccount debit card use Disadvantages: e-savings account complicated to operate
...this review on using a Nationwide FlexAccount abroad.
FlexAccount Foreign Exchange savings
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I opened a NationWide FlexAccount in conjunction with an e-Savings account. Whilst I'm not particularly impressed with the e-Savings account (see my original 'e-Savings exasperation' article below). I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by how inexpensive it is to withdraw cash with the Debit card abroad. I don't use ... ...commision on the transaction; the NationWide FlexAccount does not suffer either of these inconveniences. Each cash withdrawal from the HSBC account was subjected to a commission of 1% (£1.50 minimum) and then the FoRex rate was changed (in the banks favour - of course...) by a few percent.
Consider how much you pay during the whole course of you stay abroad, and the savings you get from using the FlexAccount soon add up - in my experience you'll ...
free14 11.05.2001 (17.07.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Nationwide Building Society Accounts
Advantages: Run for the customers - See op Disadvantages: See op
I've held accounts with Nationwide all my life. I've always been impressed with their levels of service, and the accounts/mortgages they offer. However, recently- as they are one of the only remaining building societies, some people have stated that they'd like them to become a bank. Surely I can complain, I'd get loads of free shares, or at least some sort of financial reward. However, that's looking at it in the short term- because as a bank they ... ...it stands to reason that Nationwide will be able to give you the best deals across the board, because they are run for the customers. Branches- Nationwide seem to have lots of branches in convenient places. My local branch is also open more than the other banks around it- Nationwide is 9-5, Nat West is only 10-4, when you work- 10-4 isn't very useful (9-5's a struggle). Nationwide also have no policy of branch closure at the moment either. Accounts/Interest ...
father_jack 12.11.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Nationwide Building Society Accounts
Advantages: Flexible accounts, easy to understand, good site layout, great customer service, online accounts updated regularly. Disadvantages: maybe a little on the slow side when it comes to getting an account off the ground when applied for online.
...the proud owner of a Nationwide ‘Flex Account’. I’d been on the lookout for a current account that gave you the option of NOT having a compulsory chequebook and overdraft, but still gave bill payment facilities such as Direct Debits, Standing Orders, an ATM card, and the money transfer capabilities that most of us associate with a current account. Nationwide do just that. They weren’t my first port of call online, but having tried several other banks ... ...agree to “Assign to the Nationwide Foundation any windfall conversions benefits to which you may become entitled to in the future” In English, this basically means that should there be any mergers with other banks etc, you don’t get a beneficial cash deposit in your account as a result of that merger. This condition is only applicable to new members, anyone who was a member on the 2nd November 1997 and before, is not affected.
Once you’ve completed ...
moonwillow 05.01.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Nationwide Building Society Accounts
Advantages: Ease of Use, no charge foreign withdrawals, lots of options Disadvantages: can be a bit fiddly to set up.
...I found that the Nationwide Flex account fitted the bill perfectly. An added bonus was that I could monitor and make transactions on line - like set-up / amend / cancel Standing Orders/Direct Debits/Bill Payments, check mini statement or see a more detailed statement or order a full statement in the post. The Flex account card is a multipurpose one. It is a ATM Link cashcard, a Visa Debit Card and it is a Delta card ( you can use it like a Switch ... ...have access to all your Nationwide accounts - mortgage, visa card, flex account and so on. There is also an excellent "online teller" where you can ask a real person questions. I have done this twice and received sensible and correct replies the next day. E-Savings is the other option available once you go online. It is an internet only saving account which gives you far higher rates of interest - currently 4%gross and 3.2% net. Money can only move ...
ultras67 18.01.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Nationwide Building Society Accounts
Product package
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Advantages: Available in most High Streets Disadvantages: EXPENSIVE
I had an account with the NatWest for about five years and never had any problems although I found their charges rather steep. Then because of a delay in my pay going in by a day, I went overdrawn by 2p and was charged £25. I wrote to the Manager who after some delay eventually refunded the charge, but I then switched to the NationwideBuildingSociety. They pay me interest on my account,they charge me less than 10p if I am overdrawn by £20 or so for a few days at the end of the month and are much more helpful in their attitude to their customers.
After changing to the Nationwide, I left 15p in my NatWest account and for three years every quarter they sent me a statement with a 23p stamp! This sums up my view of the NatWest! ...
Feffie 12.02.2001
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Advantages: Internet Banking and Branch Staff who help rather than hinder Disadvantages: Telephone Access Hours
We now live abroad and have had experience with a number of UK banks and buildingsocietie. We transferred some of our bank accounts offshore and still retained our UK bank accounts for some transactions. Nationwide really outshines the rest in their helpful attitude and their honest advice. The branch staff are always helpful on the phone and they TRY to assist, not like some of the experiences we have had with others who have put up hurdles, made us change accounts and quite honestly asked for so much ID information that it is just unbelievable given that we have banked with some of them for more than 20 years. The Nationwide Credit card is also such good value for us living here charging no transaction fees and offering excellent exchange rates for shopping outside the UK - if you travel or move abroad, this is the Credit Card for you ...
Advantages: All the advantages of a high street bank Disadvantages: none apparent
I highly recommend this service. Following a bankruptcy almost five years ago now, I have had so-called current account with NationwideBuildingSociety. Despite repeated requests for a chequebook (not even a guarantee card, just a cheque book) I have been denied every time. This means that cheques take a week to clear - being a freelancer this causes no end of cash flow problems.
I applied to first-e and immediately was given a cheque book and a debit card for my account. Finally after all this time I have stopped being penalised for a bankruptcy that was paid off years ago. (I lost house, car etc). The service is first class and cheques clear in a short time. Full facilities online for account tracking and monthly statements straight to my e-mail box. I was surprised not to see this banking service included a category on this ...
judy3_uk 23.02.2001 (16.02.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of First-e
