Nationwide’s FlexStudent1 current account is again offering £100 cash and £120 of Just Eat vouchers over 12 months in a deal that offers £220 of incentives to students in their first year of university. The account offer launches on 15 July for 2026’s new student intake.
Last student season, FlexStudent, attracted 48 per cent of the market – it also comes with an interest-free and fee-free arranged overdraft of up to £1,000 in the first year, £2,000 in the second and £3,000 by the third year - in addition to commission-free purchases and cash withdrawals abroad.
This year, students will get limited-edition debit cards, there are three designs, issued at random, while stocks last.
To get the offer, students opening a new FlexStudent account must deposit £500 and make five debit card payments by 11th December 2026 (see full eligibility criteria2 www.nationwide.co.uk/studentoffer).
FlexStudent breakdown for 2026:
- Cash: students will receive £100 into their FlexStudent account within 14 calendar days of crediting it with at least £500 by 11th December 2026 – e.g., the first instalment of their student loan (£500 doesn’t need to be a one-off transaction). They will also need to make five debit card payments.
- Just Eat: eligible account openings will receive a registration code and can access the £10 voucher code every month for the first 12 months. These can be used online. Access will be provided within 14 days of the student becoming eligible.
- Arranged overdraft: access to an interest-free, fee-free, flexible overdraft throughout a student’s studies (subject to status), where they can set borrowing limits. Students can request up to £1,000 in the first year, up to £2,000 in their second year and a maximum of £3,000 in year three (accounts can be held beyond three years with the maximum £3,000 overdraft). They’ll need to pay in at least £500 or have paid in at least £1,500 in two or more payments over the past year to be eligible for an overdraft increase for years 2 and 3.
- pay in at least £500 each term, keep up with bill payments and stay within their arranged overdraft limit.
- Fee-free purchases and cash withdrawals abroad: FlexStudent account holders will not pay any Nationwide fees for using their card abroad for making purchases or withdrawing cash, giving them peace of mind when travelling.
- Access to the FlexGraduate current account3: Those with a FlexStudent account will have exclusive access to FlexGraduate – a post-university current account with an interest-free, fee-free arranged overdraft designed to help students find their feet after university, allowing them time to pay off their overdraft once their course has finished.
Tom Riley, Director of Retail Products at Nationwide Building Society, said: “Starting university is an exciting milestone, but it’s completely normal for both students and parents to feel concerned about managing money independently for the first time. Taking some time to research and prepare before term starts can make the transition much smoother. A good place to start is by opening a student current account, which can help make everyday finances easier to manage. Our FlexStudent account combines practical support such as access to an overdraft with a mix of cash incentives and Just Eat vouchers giving students a little extra help as they settle into university life.”
Andrew Hagger, Personal Finance Expert from Moneycomms.co.uk looks at the early developments in the 2026/27 student bank account market “The high street providers are starting to announce their student bank account offers for 2026/27 with Nationwide looking to build on last year's dominant performance where it took 48% of the market.
The just eat promotion was a big success last year with more than half a million take away vouchers downloaded - a massive hit with students.
Interestingly 11% of Nationwide Student bank accounts were opened in branch, showing how those perhaps opening a bank account for the first time, value that face to face service.”
Rachel Springall, Finance Expert at Moneyfacts, said: “An essential part of any student current account is a generous interest-free overdraft, and combining this with cost saving incentives and free cash can make a huge difference to students. Nationwide’s FlexStudent account offers an attractive bundle, the £100 cash bonus can go towards the cost of study materials, and Just Eat vouchers help students save a bit of cash when ordering takeaways or groceries.”
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