News
05 Jun 2026
Nationwide installs defibrillators and bleed control kits at all 605 branches to support British high streets
- Nationwide is the first banking provider to roll out public access defibrillators and bleed control kits across all branches1 - with Virgin Money branches to follow, as it becomes Britain’s biggest branch network
- All 605 Nationwide branches to have a defibrillator and a bleed control kit installed by end of the year
- Life-saving training for Nationwide colleagues and communities across the UK run by St John Ambulance
- 87% of people would feel safer with local life-saving equipment: 97% state importance of free, life-saving first aid sessions
- Forms part of Nationwide’s commitment to High Street and follows promise to keep all branches open until at least 2030
04 Jun 2026
The Mortgage Works cuts rates across buy-to-let and limited company buy-to-let ranges
The Mortgage Works is from tomorrow (Friday 5 June) cutting rates by up to 0.22 percentage points on selected one, two and five-year fixed rate products for new and existing customers.
04 Jun 2026
World Cup FOMO to spark ticket and spending rush
- Nationwide survey reveals 25% of Brits want last-minute World Cup tickets, rising to 43% if they reach the semi-finals or beyond
- World Cup to encourage higher spending - 27% plan to spend more with 25% expecting to spend an extra £50–£100 in June and July
- 9pm kick-offs: fans to watch at home with family (40%) or friends (15%), with 11% going to a pub or bar
- Spending to focus on food: 18% buying gametime snacks and treats from supermarkets and 16% grabbing a takeaway
- As Nationwide data from the 2024 Euros shows takeaway orders averaged £23 a time
29 May 2026
World Cup warning: 1 in 4 young Brits gamble to pay bills as World Cup fuels betting surge
• 83% of 18-24-year-olds expect to gamble more frequently due to major sporting events in 2026 – more than double the rate of over-55s (37%)
• Nearly 1 in 5 (18%) 18-24-year-old gamblers cite ‘addicted’ as a reason they gamble – around 9 times the rate among over-55s (2%)
• 1 in 4 (25%) young gamblers say they gamble to get more money to pay essential bills, against 7% of over-55s
• But reassuringly three-quarters (74%) of 18–24-year-olds have used a gambling block, against just 22% of over-55s
• Nationwide urges customers to get in touch, or to contact the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 if in need of support
27 May 2026
The Mortgage Works introduces new two-year tracker products and cuts fixed buy-to-let rates
The Mortgage Works is from tomorrow (Thursday 28 May) introducing new two-year tracker products to its buy-to-let range as well as cutting rates on selected two, three and five-year fixed rate products for new and existing customers.
21 May 2026
Nationwide to become UK's biggest branch network as banks continue to close theirs
- Nationwide to become the UK’s biggest group branch network from 4 June
- The 696-branch network includes 605 Nationwide and 91 Virgin Money branches
- Nationwide has pledged in November to keep every single branch open until at least 2030
- Last year, Nationwide supported 6.7m unique branch users and was responsible for 57% of all UK branch-based product openings, with its branch current account sales up 21%
- Nationwide continues to invest in branches and digital service as part of offering customers choice in banking
21 May 2026
Nationwide announces 2026 Fairer Share payment as part of its member benefits
- Around 4.4m eligible members to receive £100 Fairer Share in June, taking total paid since 2023 to c£1.5bn
- Nationwide returned £1.8bn of value back to its members as it announces full year financial results
- New 5% Member Exclusive Bond and £175 current account switching incentive also announced
- Record year for personal current account growth as more than 1m accounts opened with Nationwide (which now includes Virgin Money)
16 May 2026
Nationwide gives abuse survivors power to block harmful payment messages with new in-app feature
- Nationwide becomes first high street banking provider to launch in-app payment reference feature supporting survivors of economic abuse
- Surviving Economic Abuse estimates 4.2 million women in the UK has experienced economic abuse by a current or former partner
- New feature builds on introduction of three-stage warning letters that can ultimately lead to account closure
- Comes as part of wider support offered by Nationwide – from Safe Spaces in branches to referrals to domestic and economic abuse charity Refuge
- Nationwide and charity Surviving Economic Abuse urge people to seek support if experiencing abuse
12 May 2026
The Mortgage Works cuts rates and introduces three new buy-to-let products
The Mortgage Works is from tomorrow (Wednesday 13 May) cutting rates by up to 0.20 percentage points on selected one, two and five-year fixed rate products across its mortgage range for new and existing customers as well as introducing new products to its buy-to-let range.
11 May 2026
Nationwide cuts mortgage rates to support first-time buyers, home movers and people remortgaging
- Reductions of up to 0.36 percentage points across first-time buyer, home mover and remortgage ranges
- Nationwide’s lowest rate now 4.35% for new and existing customers looking to move home
11 May 2026
First-time fixers: Fledgling homeowners cut costs by taking on fixer-uppers to achieve dream home
• 66% of first-time buyers bought a cheaper home because it needed DIY or renovation work done.
• Many choosing a ‘fixer-upper’ were able to buy in their preferred location, add value and put their stamp on it.
• DIY almost mandatory among first-time buyers, with 93% completing at least one project since moving in.
• But three quarters of first-time buyers have carried out more work than they expected at the outset.
• Nationwide’s recent ‘What Adds Value’ report reveals extensions or loft conversions can add up to 24% value.
• By borrowing more through Nationwide’s Helping Hand mortgage boost, Louis from Essex was able to keep money back from deposit to finance renovation costs.
07 May 2026
Landlords in the North of England see biggest benefits from renting energy efficient homes
- North of England attracts largest price and rental premium for more energy efficient buy-to-let properties.
- With potential value added to house prices, coupled with higher rents, the majority of landlords in the Midlands and North likely to recoup the initial investment within five years.
- Pre-1919 properties make up nearly a third of the private rented stock and the cost to upgrade those properties to EPC band C is c£10,700. This compares to just £2,500 for a property built between 2003 and 2013.
- Terraced properties make up a third of England’s private rented sector properties and will require around £7,900, on average, to improve them to an EPC ‘C’ rating.
- 51% of private rented stock in England now rated A to C, up from 25% ten years ago.
- Property rated A or B attracts a significant premium of 12.2%, compared to a similar property rated ‘D’ (up from 10.9% in 2024).
- Rental premium of 8.1% for A or B rated property (compared with similar D-rated property), equivalent to c£85 per month (up from £70 per month in 2024).