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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!