From Monday, 4th March, Nationwide Building Society's members will be able to vote online for the charities they would like to receive £5,000 of funding, as part of the Society's new initiative - The Big Local.

Each month Nationwide will choose three charities nominated by its members from a different UK region. The three chosen charities will each be awarded £200 and members will then be able to visit the new 'Big Local' website http://your.nationwide.co.uk/thebiglocal and vote for which of the three they would most like to receive an additional £5,000 of funding.

The Big Local will also feature on Nationwide's Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/NationwideBuildingSociety - look for The Big Local button) allowing people to not only vote for their preferred charity but also share their choice with their friends and family, potentially generating even more votes.

The scheme, which kicks off in March with charities in the South West, forms part of Nationwide's Living on Your Side initiative, which has seen the Society commit to investing and unlocking £15 million for local communities over the next five years.

Stephen Uden, Head of Citizenship at Nationwide, commented: "Nationwide is owned by our members, not shareholders, and we believe they should have a real say in how and where we support the community.

"The Big Local website allows members to vote for one of three member-nominated local charities, providing information about what each of the charities do and giving members the chance to monitor each charity's progress. It is a fantastic way for our members to get involved and tell us exactly where our funding, volunteering and fundraising efforts should be focused - after all, our members know their communities better than anyone else."

To find out more about the Big Local and to cast your vote, please visit http://your.nationwide.co.uk/thebiglocal or our on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/NationwideBuildingSociety/app_563995960291074. To nominate a charity that you think should be supported through the Big Local in the future and to find out more about Nationwide's Living on your Side initiative, please visit the Living on your side website at http://your.nationwide.co.uk/your-society/Pages/your-society-home.aspx

Notes to editors:

Nationwide is the world's largest building society as well as the second largest savings provider and a top-three provider of mortgages in the UK. It is also a major provider of current accounts, credit cards, ISAs and personal loans. Nationwide has around 15 million members.

Customers can manage their finances in a branch, on the telephone, internet and post. The Society has around 16,000 employees. Nationwide's head office is in Swindon with administration centres based in Northampton, Bournemouth and Dunfermline. The Society also has a number of call centres across the UK.