Selected achievements
A major provider of financial services
We are the world's biggest building society with assets around £190 billion.
We are the UK's second largest savings provider and third largest mortgage lender.
Setting the pace
Nationwide is one of the largest funders of social housing in the UK.
In the six months from April to September 2011 Nationwide's products featured in best buy tables in national newspapers over 1,000 times.
In 2011, Nationwide won over 10 major awards from independent organisations for its products and services including: best building society and online lender, best notice account, five star ratings for FlexAccount features and benefits and for home insurance cover, and most responsible credit card lending practices.
In 2011, 2010 and 2009 Nationwide was named as one of the world's top 50 safest financial institutions by Global Finance magazine.
In 2009 we expanded our savings operation into the Republic of Ireland with the opening of Nationwide UK (Ireland), headquartered in Dublin.
In 2009 Nationwide acquired selected assets and liabilities of Dunfermline Building Society.
In 2008 mergers with The Derbyshire and The Cheshire Building Societies were successfully completed bringing greater financial security to customers of these societies.
In 2007 our merger with Portman Building Society created a society with 14 million members.
In 2005 Nationwide introduced a Monthly Income account for older people and over 55s life cover.
In 2004 we confirmed our commitment to UK Call Centres.
In 2002 our Takeaway Remortgage was launched.
In 2001 we launched the UK’s first internet banking service available through a television and set top box.
In 2000 we launched our e-savings account.
In 1997 we were the first to introduce a retail internet banking service in the UK.
In October 1995 we became the first building society to launch PC home banking.
In June 1995 we became one of the first financial organisations to have a site on the Internet.
We launched a Visa Delta debit card in 1991.
We changed the face of retail banking in 1987 when we introduced our award winning FlexAccount.
A reputation for integrity
We have campaigned for the use of ‘soft quote’ credit score assessments across the industry. This would make it easier for customers wanting a loan to shop around and get quotes from different organisations as each ‘soft quote’ would not impact on their credit scores.
Nationwide has raised awareness of ‘negative order of payments’ practice on credit cards and influenced the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to include ‘order of payments’ in its review. Unlike many other credit card providers Nationwide operates a more customer friendly ‘positive’ order of payments which means that when you make a payment to reduce the balance on your credit card, we reduce your most expensive debt first.
We played our part in promoting financial stability in the UK during the credit crunch by merging with the Derbyshire and Cheshire building societies in December 2008 and by acquiring selected assets and liabilities of Dunfermline Building Society in March 2009. While we would not wish to see a fellow building society fail, we have made very clear that we are not the lender of last resort.
Since 2008 Nationwide has campaigned for fairness in allocation of payments into the Financial Services Compensation Scheme and a fairer risk based scheme is now planned.
In October 2002 we became the first UK credit card issuer to introduce a 'summary box', outlining all the key rates and charges. As a result of Nationwide's leadership, all credit card issuers are now required to provide a summary box. We have launched a similar summary box for our current account and personal loan products.
We were the first organisation in the UK to sign Age Concern's Business Pledge designed to rid business of age discrimination; and increased our maximum retirement age to 75.
Pride in our people
Nationwide has been recognised as an Investors in People organisation since 1992 and we continue to enjoy a successful relationship with IIP and their partners. In 2007 Nationwide was again given Investors in People Champion status until October 2010
Supporting the community
Our members and employees have raised over £6 million for Macmillan Cancer Support since 1993.
We have distributed over 12 million pedestrian reflectors to primary school children to make them much more visible to motorists.
The award winning Nationwide Education web site delivers free financial and safety education to teachers, children and parents has already received over 5.5m 'hits'.
Nationwide has a strong interest in all issues affecting housing. A core part of our Corporate Responsibility strategy focuses on promoting housing inclusion and for this reason we have teamed up with the homelessness and housing charity Shelter. We support Shelter in providing services to families, children and young people.
We have invested £3 million in Citizens Advice to fund the recruitment and training of 1,300 volunteers who provide financial education, training and advice on money matters.
We are the major sponsor of Disability Sport Events with a £1million investment in swimming and athletics, stretching to the 2012 Paralympics. DSE organises regional, national and international championships in a variety of sports.