written by obDonnelly138 on 17/03/2016
I have been a customer with Nationwide for over thirty years. I've developed a kind of attachment to them. However, during the last couple of years or so there has been a definite change of atmosphere. Some people might never experience these problems but we have been subject to an endless stream of goalpost-moving so that we always have to provide more information or get a certified copy of something or other OR WE LOSE CONTROL of the account! It just rolls on and on. As soon as one thing is taken care of they come up with a new problem. Added to that, they often change their story or give contradictory information and occasionally simply don't reply to a question. For example, they wanted my tax number. I asked what that was as the system hadn't even started then and they didn't reply. I eventually sent this confidential information when the new system was introduced and they seemed happy but they never at any point explained precisely what they wanted. I find it all incredibly suspicious. They send out pompous letters explaining it all in terms of things like "the global fight against crime" but it all sounds bogus to me. To be perfectly honest, it seems like they're always testing out the waters to see what they can get away with and that has become their policy. It never used to be like this. It is likely to very inconvenient to do so but I feel like we had better take our money out before too long.
written by brAnderson323 on 23/06/2015
As a non-dom, I've been using Nationwide International for more than ten years. I always thought the service was good and quite personal, but in the past couple of years something seems to have changed. Did they reorganise? It now seems so impersonal and they have made a few mistakes over the past couple of years that always required me to chase them to get things put right. I am also getting better interest rates onshore now, even taking tax into account. The most frustrating recent incidents: 1) getting locked out of my online account and having to re-register for the service, which involved waiting for new login details to come by post; 2) waiting two weeks for a payment transfer to be set up whilst the money sat idle.
written by RylanSchneider299 on 19/12/2014
Been trying to open an account for about the last 3 months and am at the point of giving up. Each time I send some paperwork in a a new piece comes back. I have even had an account with them in the past but that does not matter, My advise is just not bother.
written by on 28/04/2012
Interest rates are low everywhere but Nationwide are usually near the top. You have to make sure though to renew the account when the bonus finishes each year. Service has been OK, though nothing special.
written by on 28/02/2012
I've just opened an offshore account for the first time as I ma rather belatedly fulfilling a wish to work in France. I have found Nationwide to be both polite and punctual and their efforts to ensure that I had the account opened before moving were admirable, which is why I have taken the trouble to comment here. All too often the "system says no" is the answer but in my case they went that extra mile to get details to me in short order. Well done.
written by TomClithero on 12/12/2011
I've just opened an account with Nationwide having been a customer in the UK and the service if anything is better. The account was opened within two days and I had a letter and statement by the following day. They have sent a statement every time I've made a transaction which is a bit irritating so not full marks but otherwise they have been reliable and quick.
written by RogerAbelman on 24/11/2011
I've been with these guys 6 months and they are quick. I use the online service all the time (overnight UK time) to transfer money to and from checking account in sterling and US dollars and they have processed each transfer without fail the next day and confirmed it online and by post subsequently. The service is ideal if you just want to get more for your buck and don't leave your cash rotting with the clearers making squat.
written by sledgeuk1 on 06/08/2011
Sent a interest calculation query on their secure sight and they posted the response but failed to advise by secure message. Asked them via secure message to copy and paste their calculation response on the secure site and they replied that they could not do that. Then asked them via secure message to scan and e mail the interest calculation they answered by secure mail as follows. "Thank you for your message In response to your enquiry no we do not have a scanner and we do not use external e mail nor do we have plans to implement the use of either in the near future The information has been sent to you and hopefully you will receive it shortly Kind regards ****************** Senior Operations Manager" I trust that this can of assistance In case you are reading this Alysson this is of no assistance whatsover and 3 months later I am non the wiser as to why you have not paid interest on a substantial amount of funds you had on a particular day and a simple explanation could have been given by secure mail regarding why no interest was paid. When my funds have matured, no more business is the message relayed.
written by Eric Randle on 04/09/2010
These guys have given me a pretty good service over the years. That being said I don't ask much of them, I deposit savings here and use my main bank account to do the daily transactions. They've paid decent interest rates consistently provided you watch out for the bonus dropping off. I have recommended them to friends and they seem happy enough with them too. I've tried quite a lot of other offshore banks and building societies and this is the one I have ended up staying with so that must tell you something. Re 24 hour opening in my experience none of the offshore banks offering a decent rate are open 24 hours. I use the online service to do transactions in the evening and they do them the following day, never been a problem.
written by on 04/09/2010
Very very disappointed with the inability to transfer monies to a non nominated A/C.given that they only add additional nominated A/C's via written instruction (fax, email,telephone instruction not accepted)
In practice, this made an unforeseen "emergency" transfer impossible.
When I queried this, I was informed that I should have set up the "emergency" nominated A/C when I opened the A/C. (so I'm expected to have the foresight of knowing every A/C that I might need to make a transfer to)....
Their customer services is not manned 24/7....(something I find ridiculous for an "offshore" operation)
In short, I find their services very poor and totally unsuitable for the needs of non UK domicile customers.
Written on: 08/08/2011
Totally agree especially when some other banks allow you to set up a nominated account through their secure site. I gave all the nominated details through their secure message and faxed it to them but they would only except a original posted version where u have to keep checking if they received it. When questioning why they would not accept the secure message got a garbled reply about security and pushed them again that if they would not accept instructions on the secure message system for security reasons it implied their secure message system was not secure. Never got a response and my money with them is so secure that even their customers have difficulty getting it out to a new account. Get this they have put in writing that they do not have a scanner or intent getting one and will not use e mail. So a simple e mail prompts to view your secure message or other routine e mails is not an option with this bank. 0 out of 10 and if they are so far behind with the electronic age maybe they should set up a carrier pigeon service to speed up their operation.
written by Peter Case on 31/08/2010
I'm afraid I can't agree with the previous reviewer in respect of the online web site in my experience this seems to be one of the better sites out there. True its relatively simple but that to me is an advantage. I have had no reliablity problems with the site and I use Chrome which I have had a few problems with on other sites. Overall I think this is a pretty good service.
written by on 06/07/2010
I just use them for FX deals (I have a dollar account, a euro account and a sterling account.) They've always been pretty good on service for me. The web site's OK, its just a bit tired looking, but the online bank does the job and I think just the opposite than first reviewer about response times, I post in an evening and I have always had a reply by following day I get home. I'm really surprised you've had a different experience I wonder how long you tried them for? I've been with them 4 years (which is why I know the site is so tired!) Generally happy with them which is something for a bank.
written by on 12/05/2010
I too have opened an account here, and compared to others offshore they turned round the application process quickly (I had to wait a month at another provider before they got it right). I did notice the rates will drop because it is all up front the same as my mortgage deal - but it is all up front and not hidden in the detail as others do. I left my previous offshore bank because they launched a new product with a better rate that was available to new customers only and would only let me transfer my money to the new product if I took it away and returned it. So far no nonsense like this here but I'll move again if they do. On internet bank they again have been quick to answer always next day or better for me and no reliability issues.
written by on 13/04/2010
I opened a 3 year lifetime account. Fine the first year at 6.4%. I was then hook, line and sinkered with a 'catch' in which the interest dropped to a paltry 0.20%. Rang them up, and I was reminded it was in the print and the 'onus' was upon me to notice this 'catch'.
Swept up in everyday life, I barely find ten minutes to watch telly a week let alone read all the details that come through my door.
Saving with Nationwide is fine, but you have to be on your toes with them.
Disappointed.
Written on: 06/08/2011
Hey but look at their promise and they guarantee the interest rate will never fall 1.35 (monthly) below BOE Rate so if the BOE remains at 0.5 you pay them 0.85 interest.Are they serious
Nationwide Conditions follow
Enjoy the certainty of a fixed rate for 12 months
This is followed by a guarantee that your interest rate will be 0.30% (annual/Interest on closure) or 0.65% (monthly) below the Bank of England base rate until 31 March 2013
Finally, a further guarantee that the rate will never be lower than 1.00% (annual/Interest on closure) or 1.35% (monthly) below the Bank of England base rate for the lifetime of the account
All this along with 6 penalty free withdrawals, of any amount, per financial year following the end of the fixed rate term
written by on 28/12/2009
Been with them 3 years. Don't confuse them with a clearing bank, this is an IOM subsidiary of the UK Building Society and is a 'Savings-Only' operation.
Transfers in and out in Euro (to France) work fast and well, their intermediary Euro Clearing bank does not add extra charges for transfers.
Phone banking is always polite and friendly, never super intelligent, but has improved - everyone is in the IOM. They did responded formally and properly to my one complaint. My friend uses Internet banking with them and he reports it works and he has fast responses from secure e-mails, also excellent GBP transfers to/from UK Nationwide Acct.
Sadly, they have now modified the terms of their deferred interest accts, also rates have plummeted (mid-2009). Very sadly, as I type their Euro rates are not competitive; they create new accounts/offers and do not advertise to existing clients that 'switching' is available - ask.
written by on 16/12/2009
Having been very happy with the service offered by Nationwide in the UK, we opened an offshore account with Nationwide International, assuming that the service would be equally good. We have been bitterly disappointed: they do not offer full Internet banking services, responses are slow to arrive, and the platform they use is unreliable, which means that you cannot access your account half of the time. Try someone else!
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Guest's Comment
Written on: 06/08/2011
Totally agree that their nominated account procedure sucks. I have written to them through their secure message system to nominate a bank so I could TT funds and they replied via secure message they only accept original posted instructions for new nominated accounts. I challenged them that this implied their secure message system was then not secure at all if they will not act on instructions given through secure messages.No response as yet and am dooged by incompetance with this outfit and am moving my money out ASAP