2.1 Strategy and management
2.1.1 Responsibility for the overall management of Nationwide and setting its values and standards.
2.1.2 Responsibility for the adoption and development of Nationwide's culture as a mutual organisation.
2.1.3 Approval of Nationwide's long term objectives and commercial strategy, which should be designed to achieve long-term success, including the Society Plan.
2.1.4 Approval of Nationwide's annual operating and expenditure budgets.
2.1.5 Oversight of Nationwide's operations ensuring:
- competent and prudent management
- sound planning and risk management
- an adequate system of internal control
- adequate accounting and other records
- compliance with statutory and regulatory obligations
- adequate financial resources
- fair outcomes for our members and customers
2.1.6 Review of performance in the light of Nationwide's strategy, objectives, business plans and budgets and ensuring that any necessary corrective action is taken, including review of the Business Performance Pack.
2.1.7 Approval of any decision to enter or exit Recovery, and direction of actions taken by Nationwide under the Recovery Plan.
2.1.8 Any extension of Nationwide's activities into new business or new geographic areas.
2.1.9 Any decision to cease to operate all or any part of Nationwide's business which would have a Major impact on Nationwide.
2.2 Structure, capital and funding
2.2.1 All issues or redemptions of Core Capital Deferred Shares.
2.2.2 Subject to paragraph 2.2.1, changes relating to Nationwide's capital structure including capital raising activity, except individual capital raising transactions which are below £100 million and not part of a wider capital raising programme, which transactions can be approved by the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer jointly.
2.2.3 Subject to paragraph 2.2.1, any capital redemptions, except those below £200 million which are included in the Society Plan and where the redemption does not breach any Board risk appetite trigger, which transactions can be approved by the Board Risk Committee.
2.2.4 Changes to Nationwide's corporate structure including any merger or creation, acquisition or disposal of any subsidiary or associated company, or of any significant business operation, or any other initiative which has significant strategic implications for Nationwide, except that in the event that the Society is invited to rescue another society or other financial institution by way of merger or acquisition and it is not practical to convene a Board meeting, the Emergency Powers Committee shall have power to agree such merger or acquisition on behalf of the Board.
2.2.5 Any acquisition, disposal or securitisation of trading assets or liabilities with a gross book value in excess of £1billion or where there is an unbudgeted loss arising in excess of £50 million.
2.2.6 The acquisition or disposal of any individual non-trading asset, including freehold or leasehold property, with a gross book value in excess of £50 million or where there is an unbudgeted loss arising in excess of £25 million.
2.2.7 The above paragraphs (2.2.5 and 2.2.6) exclude all dealings in any trading assets as duly authorised by Board delegated authorities or under other committees' terms of reference.
2.2.8 Changes to Nationwide's management and control structure unless separately approved by the Audit Committee or Board Risk Committee under their terms of reference.
2.2.9 Any change to the Society's mutual status.
2.2.10 The principles of any new forms of wholesale funding and capital instruments with characteristics different from those previously approved by the Board.
2.2.11 Any utilisation of central bank emergency liquidity support such as the Discount Window Facility.
2.3 Financial reporting and controls
2.3.1 Approval of preliminary announcements of annual results, half yearly results and interim management statements.
2.3.2 Approval of the distribution policy for periodic investment returns on Core Capital Deferred Shares.
2.3.3 Declaration of periodic investment returns on Core Capital Deferred Shares.
2.3.4 Approval of the annual report and accounts including the corporate governance statement and remuneration report.
2.4 Internal controls and risk management
2.4.1 Approval of Nationwide's risk appetite.
2.4.2 Ensuring maintenance of a sound system of internal control and risk management including:
- receiving reports on, and reviewing the effectiveness of, Nationwide's risk and control processes to support its strategy and objectives;
- undertaking at least an annual assessment of these processes; and
- approving an appropriate statement for inclusion in the annual report and accounts.
2.4.3 The Board may delegate certain responsibilities for approval of other aspects of risk management to the Board Risk Committee. Delegations of authority will be set out in the Board Risk Committee terms of reference which is approved annually by the Board.
2.4.4 The Board Risk Committee will advise the Board on risk matters and highlight significant risks identified through the Society's risk reporting framework for discussion and if appropriate, approval.
2.5 Projects and Contracts
2.5.1 Individual projects or projects that are related which in aggregate involve project spend in excess of £50 million over the life of the project. Project spend shall include, but not be limited to, third party supplier contract expenditure as well as internal spend and internal resource costs.
2.5.2 Contracts with third parties which involve annual spend in excess of £25 million or total life of contract spend in excess of £150 million.
2.5.3 Entering into individual or inter-related leases or tenancies where the annual rent exceeds £5 million, or disposal of surplus leasehold premises with an annual rental value in excess of £5 million.
2.6 Technology, innovation and strategic investment
2.6.1 Oversee Nationwide’s Strategic Investment Portfolio and conduct and annual review of the Strategic Investment Plan.
2..6.2 Oversee all individual IT Programmes with an investment spend of over £50m or of strategic importance as proposed by the Executive Committee.
2.6.3 Oversee technology innovation and execution of the technology strategy.
2.6.4 Horizon scanning activity including the receipt of market insight papers on emerging trends and review of Nationwide’s venturing activity.
2.6.5 Receive updates on specific strategy programmes as requested eg. Open Banking, Mobile First.
2.6.6 To support the Board in discharging its responsibilities as highlighted in 2.6 the Board shall hold an extended meeting every quarter with external IT Advisors in attendance as necessary according to their skills and expertise.
2.7 Lending
2.7.1 Approval of recommendations from the Executive Risk Committee for:
- lending proposals in excess of the Executive Risk Committee's lending mandate;
- borrowing propositions which, in the opinion of the Executive Risk Committee, fall outside the Society's normal business; and
- acquisition of external loan portfolios in excess of the Executive Risk Committee's mandate.
2.7.2 Approval of Treasury Counterparty exposures in excess of the Executive Risk Committee's mandate.
2.8 Communication
2.8.1 Approval of resolutions and corresponding documentation to be put forward to members at a general meeting, including proposals for amendments to the Society's Memorandum and Rules.
2.8.2 Approval of communications that are material to Nationwide including all circulars, prospectuses and listing particulars.
2.9 Board membership and other senior management issues
2.9.1 Changes to the structure, size and composition of the Board, following recommendations from the Nomination and Governance Committee.
2.9.2 Ensuring adequate succession planning for the Board and senior management following recommendations from the Nomination and Governance Committee, including any changes to the Board Composition and Succession Plan.
2.9.3 Appointments to the Board, following recommendations by the Nomination and Governance Committee, including the appointment of the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the Senior Independent Director, Chief Compliance Officer and the Society Secretary, and the selection of members and chairmen of Board Committees.
2.9.4 Continuation in office of directors, including:
- at the end of their term of office when they are due to be re-elected by members at the annual general meeting;
- the suspension or termination of service of an executive director as an employee of the Society, subject to the law and their service contract; and
- the termination of service of the Chief Risk Officer and/or the Chief Compliance Officer and/or the Society Secretary.
2.9.5 Appointment, reappointment or removal of the external auditor to be put to members for approval, following the recommendation of the Audit Committee.
2.10 Remuneration
2.10.1 Determining the remuneration policy for the executive directors and other senior executives subject to the Memorandum and Rules and any member approval as appropriate. The remuneration of non-executive directors shall be a matter for the Chairman of the Board and the executive members of the Board.
2.10.2 Determining whether the circumstances are such that the Society's members should be invited at the annual general meeting to approve the remuneration policy.
2.10.3 Approving the introduction of new incentive plans for executive, group or divisional directors or significant changes to existing plans subject to any member approval as appropriate.
2.11 Delegation of Authority
2.11.1 The division of responsibilities between the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer, which should be in writing.
2.11.2 Approval of terms of reference of Board committees including any delegation of authority to those committees.
2.11.3 Approval of Additional Job Information statements for each of the Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board, Senior Independent Director, Board Committee Chairmen and for Non-Executive Directors.
2.11.4 Receiving minutes and/or reports from the Board committees and the Chief Executive Officer on their activities.
2.11.5 Approval of the Nationwide Governance Manual annually and any replacement of it.
2.11.6 Approval of the Delegated Authority Framework annually and any replacement of it.
2.12 Corporate governance matters
2.12.1 Review of Nationwide’s overall corporate governance arrangements.
2.12.2 Undertaking a formal and rigorous review annually of its own performance, that of its Committees and individual directors and the division of responsibilities.
2.12.3 Determining the independence of non-executive directors.
2.12.4 Considering the balance of interests between members, other customers, employees, the community and other stakeholders.
2.12.5 Receiving reports on the views of the Society’s members.
2.12.6 Agreeing the Directors’ Conflict of Interest Policy and all other relevant policies.
2.13 Whistleblowing
2.13.1 The Board shall review the adequacy and security of arrangements for employees and contractors to raise concerns, in confidence, about possible wrongdoing in financial reporting or other matters. The Board shall ensure that these arrangements allow proportionate and independent investigation of such matters and appropriate follow up action.
2.14 Miscellaneous
2.14.1 The making of political donations.
2.14.2 The prosecution, defence or settlement of litigation or alternative dispute resolution mechanism involving sums above £25 million or which would have a Major impact on Nationwide.
2.14.3 Approval of the overall levels of insurance for Nationwide including Directors’ & Officers' liability insurance.
2.14.4 Significant changes to the rules of Nationwide’s pension scheme.
2.14.5 This schedule of matters reserved for Board decisions.