FAQs
These are our most frequently asked questions (FAQs)
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You may be eligible to upgrade to a debit card if you have handled your account well. However, there are also circumstances where we would not be able to consider upgrading, which include if:
- you are under age 18;
- your existing account has been open for less than seven months;
- you have applied for an upgrade within the last four months;
- your account has recently been overdrawn without our authorisation;
- you have missed payments for other Nationwide products you hold;
- your account has not been used in the last three months;
- you have missed loan, mortgage, or credit-card payments with other providers; or
- you are currently bankrupt or have an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) with your creditors.
If none of these circumstances apply to you, you may be eligible for an upgrade. Please visit your local branch. -
- Sign on to the Internet Bank.
- Click on your FlexAccount (current account).
- Click on Overdraft from the menu on the left-hand side of the screen.
- Your authorised overdraft limit will be shown under the heading Available limit.
- To change your limit, please follow the on-screen instructions under the heading Change limit. If you have reached the maximum overdraft limit we can provide, we will give you the option to reduce your limit under this heading.
We will tell you straight away if we have accepted your request and for what amount. In some circumstances we may need to consider the request further which can take up to 48 hours.
Or, you can ring our Customer Service Centre on 08457 30 20 10 or contact your local branch. It is important to get our agreement to an overdraft, to avoid higher interest and charges. -
Yes you can.
To apply for a joint FlexAccount, please sign on to the Internet Bank and choose Apply Online from the menu at the top of the page. Then click on FlexAccount and follow the on-screen instructions. You can also apply for a joint account at your local branch. -
There are three areas to consider when thinking about cheques clearing.
1 Clearing for interest – when we start paying you interest on any cheque you pay into an account with us.
2 Clearing for withdrawal – when you are allowed to withdraw money against any cheque you pay into an account with us.
3 Clearing for certainty – when you can be certain we will not take from your account, any cheque which is returned unpaid without your permission (unless you are knowingly involved in fraud).For FlexAccount customers with ‘cash card only’ and ‘cheque book and cash card only’ accounts
Day cheque paid in Interest paid from Withdrawals allowed from Certainty from Monday Wednesday Friday Following Tuesday Tuesday Thursday Monday Following Wednesday Wednesday Friday Tuesday Following Thursday Thursday Monday Wednesday Following Friday Friday Tuesday Thursday One week after Monday Saturday Tuesday Friday One week after Tuesday Sunday Wednesday Friday One week after Tuesday
For all other FlexAccount customers
Day cheque paid in Interest paid from Withdrawals allowed from Certainty from Monday Wednesday Thursday Following Tuesday Tuesday Thursday Friday Following Wednesday Wednesday Friday Monday Following Thursday Thursday Monday Tuesday Following Friday Friday Tuesday Wednesday One week after Monday Saturday Tuesday Thursday One week after Tuesday Sunday Wednesday Thursday One week after Tuesday For withdrawals and certainty, if you pay a cheque into the account on a Saturday, Sunday or bank holiday, we will treat the day it is paid in as the next working day.
Although we will allow you to withdraw against cheques as shown above, this does not mean that the cheque has cleared for certainty. Cheques can be returned unpaid before certainty and if so, we will take the amount from your account.
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Cash machines
As long as you have enough in your account, you can withdraw up to £300 in any one day.
Branch
You can withdraw up to £500 a day at your local branch, as long as you have the money in your account or an authorised overdraft. If you need more than £500, please give your branch at least 48 hours' notice. (Some requests may take up to 72 hours – so we recommend checking with your branch beforehand.) For cash withdrawals over £500, you will need to present one piece of ID – either your passport or driving licence (with the paper counterpart (copy)).
Post Office
You can withdraw up to £300 in cash at any Post Office branch with your card and PIN.
For more information, see our card withdrawals page. -
We pay interest each year on 31 December.
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If you have Card Protection, contact the company immediately and they will arrange to cancel all your cards. Otherwise, call us immediately on 08457 30 20 10, or speak to an advisor at any Nationwide branch.
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Bill payments
If you pay a bill today, you need cleared funds in your account before you carry out the payment. If you are setting up a bill payment for a future date, you need cleared funds in your account by 5pm on the day the payment is sent.Standing orders
If you have a standing order set up, you need cleared funds in your account by 5pm on the day the payment is sent.Cheques
If you have money going out of your account to cover a cheque you have written, you should make sure you have cleared funds in your account before midnight on the working day before the payment is due. If the payment is due on a Monday, the cleared funds must be in your account by 10pm on the Sunday. You can also find out more details about when cheques you are paying in to your account clear with our cheque processing calculator.Direct debits
If you have a direct debit set up, you need cleared funds in your account before midnight on the working day before the payment is due. If the payment is due on a Monday, the cleared funds must be in your account by 10pm on the Sunday.