Nationwide Building Society Accounts

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