Nationwide Building Society Current Account

I loved by previous bank ( First Direct) ; staff were always delightful and would bend over backwards to help you. Switched current account to NW a few months ago as interested in insurance package with flexplus account but wouldn't have bothered if didn't have a friend to refer me so we could both get £100 for the trouble. Long story but I met all conditions ( correct amount paid in each month/ 2 direct debits / completed incentive application) but something went wrong and they ( after about a month of consideration by complaints department!) have written to me to stay no incentive bonus will be paid. The customer service and complaints department on the phone gave me the impression that there was little likelyhood of them changing their minds from their initial " no chance we are paying" so the letter was a disappointment rather than surprise. I truly regret moving after 20 years of care with First Direct; shows that you shouldn't be fooled by false promises of incentives!

I have been banking with Nationwide Building Society for around 30 odd years and have never had a bad experience with them. The online experience is a joy to operate and the information is so very clear. The quick transfer of money between accounts and the setting up of future payments (one-offs and direct debits etc.) is so easy. I would recommend this bank to all. I cannot think of a thing I don't like about them.

First of all I want to mention the absolutely awful processing times. As a student, I receive £100 at the beginning and middle of each month and have done for the last two years. However, Nationwide still seem to struggle keeping these on time. It can take anywhere from one to five days later for the money to actually process. Only one times out of ten is it on time. This is incredibly detrimental to a student who studies full time and relies on said money to pay bills and eat.

Secondly, the "overdraft" charges. I am not even eligible for an overdraft, and so in theory I should not be able to go in to the red. However, there has been two times where I have gone over my limit by a few pence. Literally, one time it was 14p and the other it was 30p. I got charged £15 both times. An incredibly draconic approach, I thought.

The only positive thing I have to say about Nationwide is that upon losing one of my cards it was replaced very quickly.

By accident I went over my overdraft limit for 6 days by amount of roughly £130. Got charged £65 for this. First time I have ever done gone into overdraft.

I cannot understand why no one at Nationwide couldn’t call, sms or email to let me know I had gone over my limit so I could rectify things. Instead they just kept charging me £15 for every transaction over my limit.

They could have just blocked my card and not let me incur penalties. I would have been much happier that way.

It’s a cheap way for them to make huge amounts of money and the Finical Ombudsman does nothing to protect us from these practises.

Wish I could fight them in court but I don’t have the money or the time. That’s exactly why they do it.

No wonder Nationwide has the most hits for ‘ I hate banks’ on the net.

Truly the worst customer service I have ever experienced.

Helpful and prompt online banking excellent . flexaccount very good for holidays foreign currency no charges. recommended

Nationwide have been terrible on all the products we have on them. They messed up opening my account and failed to transfer direct debits even after 3 months. When i moved on to a new housing estate I changed my address to the new one - 2 days later they changed it a house further down the street and then proceeded to send out all my bank details, mortgage details, card details and personal information in an unnamed handwritten envelope to this address. Thankfully the people opened it and saw the address was changed from ours to theirs and gave the letter to us. Now i have had someone take money out of my account by direct debit. Nationwide fraud don't deal with direct debits. The branch advised me to shut the account down as obvious security breach and i had to go into do that. However when i said i wanted them to open the new account and transfer my direct debits over before i closed the existing account they said because what happened i may not be able to have the same privileges including direct debits!

So basically they let someone take money out of my account although the name did not match and so although i am the victim i will be penalised! This has been typical of the service I have received from Nationwide on insurance, mortgage and current account - only the credit card people have been of any use. This is my experience and may be related to my branch - I don't know, but certainly I could not recommend the Nationwide based on service I have received.

Customer service was shockingly poor trying to resolve my issues. Failed to transfer all my SO & DD from old current account.

Wired money from USA to current account using Nationwide instructions and money never arrived in my account. Had to pay to get the money rewired to my USA account and rewire to another bank account.

The time taken to transfer money to another account using online banking is misleading - bill arrived late.

I have only recently applied for a Nationwide current flex account online and advise against it but instead go into your branch. Three weeks down the line and I am still awaiting details to use my account.

The Nationwide Flex account is Excellent. The Website allows easy transfer from Current account to Internet savings account which gives a good rate of interest. All accounts (including Mortgage account) are shown on the website. I travel extensively and use the Visa Debit card in many countries always getting the best exchange rate whether taken local currency from cash machines or using the Visa Debit card to buy products. Remember at present no commission is paid and a preferential exchange rate is given. Well done Nationwide you put all other Banks and Building societies to shame with this product.