News

• Expansion of Digital Lessons into local groups aimed at building online confidence and safety
• Over eight million adults lack basic digital skills and 40% are worried about being left behind
• Comes as the cost of living remains high, with digital confidence key to helping manage money
• Nationwide has held more than 2,000 Digital Lessons in branches since launching in 2025

• One in five (20%) 25–34-year-olds plan to spend more on Halloween than last year
• Halloween-themed days out attract the highest expected average spend, at £42
• Sweets remain the most popular purchase, while 26% of adults do not celebrate Halloween, 1 in ten to purchase Halloween gifts

• The Online Safe Space tool helps users access support discreetly, without leaving a trace on their device
• New service, which can be used by anyone, provides access to support, emergency contacts and resources
• Follows the launch of Safe Spaces in over 430 Nationwide and 40 Virgin Money branches across the UK
• Research shows more than a quarter (26%) of victims say they have experienced financial abuse
• More than a quarter (26%) of people affected by domestic abuse said they had experienced financial abuse

• Towns across the UK have less than one month left to enter Let’s Celebrate Towns 2026, delivered by Visa in partnership with Nationwide. Entries close on Sunday 25 October.
• Each category winner receives a £20,000 grant towards community-led projects or initiatives that give small businesses a boost.
• Towns can enter across five categories: High Street Revival, Backing Local Business, Protecting Valued Places, Connected Places and Community Pride.
• Towns are entered by their MPs, councillors and Business Improvement Districts, and winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Parliament on 14 December 2026.

• Only 9% have discussed how a parent's finances should be managed if they developed dementia, despite 53% saying they would feel comfortable having the conversation
• 41% say their household would be financially unprepared if dementia affected their immediate family
• 33% say nobody in their immediate family has a power of attorney in place, while 16% don’t know if one exists
• Only 6% believe they could afford dementia-related costs without changing their finances
• 21% wrongly believe a spouse or partner automatically gains control of finances if someone can’t manage their affairs

• 54% of parents return some or all of the rent paid by their adult children to help them save for a deposit
• Just over a third say their children are living at home specifically to save for a house deposit; 45% say they feel like a landlord to their own child
• Parents charge £303 a month on average, rising to £415 in Greater London and dropping to £187 in Yorkshire and The Humber
• 82% of parents say rising housing costs make it more likely their adult children will continue living at home
• Four in ten parents say their adult child cannot yet afford to move out

Lisa Riley MBE shares how falling victim to a convincing scam changed the way she responds to unexpected calls, texts and emails

• Nationwide research reveals one in five (15%) have shared personal information with scammers
• Brits bombarded with over three suspicious calls and texts a week
• 19% would trust an unexpected caller claiming to be from their bank if they knew details of recent account activity
• More than quarter (26%) received bogus texts impersonating their bank
• 20% would trust a caller if their bank’s name appeared on their phone and 10% if they sounded professional
• Nationwide data reveals average impersonation loss is nearly £2,200, affecting all ages
• Lisa Riley MBE shares how a scam left her more cautious about unexpected contact

Nationwide is strengthening its mortgage intermediaries leadership team with the appointment of Richard Walker as Head of Intermediary Sales and New Build.

• Nationwide FlexDirect customers can now earn £120 cashback during first year: £5 a month for direct debit spend and £5 a month for debit card spend
• Eligible customers can also receive a £175 switching incentive to join Britain’s biggest building society
• FlexDirect continues to offer 5% interest on current account balances up to £1,500 for 12 months
• Rachel Springall at Moneyfacts commentary

• Maximum age at application for first-time landlords will be increased to 75 years old, up to 70% LTV
• Landlords can now have a maximum total borrowing with the Nationwide Group of £10m
• The Mortgage Works now accepts applications that involve the purchase of an existing buy-to-let property from another family member

Nationwide Building Society announces the appointment of Simon McNamara as a Non-Executive Director of Nationwide, Virgin Money and Clydesdale Bank Boards with effect from 1 September 2026.