Nationwide Building Society Reviews

Nationwide has completly gone down hill, since it took over Portman. I have bank with them for over 20 years, never had a problem until this year. The staff are rude, when you call at the customer service centre, and loyaty does not count for anything in Nationwide. We are feeling the credit crunch, and we have tried to cliam back our bank ...  Read the complete review

Nationwide is one of the best financial institutions that I have ever had dealings with. They are a building society, and not a bank, which implies a few differences (although I am afraid that I do not know the details). My local branch is always well staffed, so even though it gets very busy, the queue goes down quickly. ...  Read the complete review

The Nationwide is the largest building society in Britain and indeed the world. It is owned by its members in contrast to conventional banks which are plc's owned by shareholders. Many building societies demutualised and became plc's in the 80's, 90's and early 00's including Abbey National, Alliance & Leicester, Bradford & Bingley, the ...  Read the complete review

As a customer of Nationwide Building Society since 1994 I think I know them well enough to give a fair opinion. Strong points: Extensive branch network: not quite from Lands End to John 0'Groats but you'd be unlucky not to find a branch near you. Most branches are now modernised with excellent cash machines where ...  Read the complete review

As a loyal Portman Building Society Customer I was a little sceptical as to what to expect when they were bought out by Nationwide Building Society. Nationwide claim they are "Proud to be different", and they certainly are. Although they supply a large number of high interest savings accounts, fixed rate ISA's at a whopping ...  Read the complete review

Nationwide Building Society is the largest mutual society in the world. 20 million people bank with the nationwide. I joined it to gain few hundred free shares. It never went public. For several years there was hope but I don't think Nationwide will become a public Ltd company with free shares for members. As a financial ...  Read the complete review

Going downhill ? We've been with the NW for years and until recently have been extremely satisfied. However they have recently changed their phone system and it is now truly awful. It takes about 5 minutes to get to the point where you can speak to a branch - and as for the voice recognition bit - forget it. I would even go so far as to say it ...  Read the complete review

I have had an account with the Nationwide since I was young as my parents opened a childrens account for me, I can remember that my Gran used to put all her five pence pieces in a jam jar and when it was full would have to put them in money bags and then I could deposit them into my savings book. I used to like to watch the money grow and to see ...  Read the complete review

I have used the Nationwide building society for the whole of my life, ever since my parents started an account for me as a baby and I have had no reason to switch to another bank or building society as I get all the things I need with Nationwide. I have always found the staff to be very helpful and knowledgeable in all the branches I ...  Read the complete review

I have had an account with Nationwide since I was around 5 years old. I suppose I feel a loyalty to them as I have never had any problems with them. The staff have always been helpful and friendly and I like the fact they are a building society, not a bank. They offer a wide range of products but here are my opinions on the ones I have used. ...  Read the complete review

I've been with Nationwide for 2 years now, having previously been with Lloyds TSB and First Direct. I travel abroad quite a bit, so the main factor for me has been finding a bank that doesnt rip you off with cashpoint charges and debit card charges when abroad. Nationwide is an absolute star with this, no charges for using your card ...  Read the complete review

Appalling! Not even worth one star.
After 7 weeks of waiting for an ISA to be opened, I now find that I was given incorrect information by their branch staff, and the branch or head office have lost papers affecting a substantial amount of money. They even admit to taking 10 weeks to set up ISAs. They clearly have too few staff to deal with the business they succeed in attracting, and the customer is the one who suffers.
I regret the day I walked through their door

Now I must admit that I opened my Nationwide flex account current account for just one reason.. the Visa debit card. The flex account debit card is the only card I know of that provides commission free purchases abroad and cash in foreign currencies. The rate of exchange you get beats any of the other currency exchange services for cash ...  Read the complete review

We have really good credit rating and never have a problem with finance houses. Our mortgage is currently with the Nationwide Building Society. My sister was in dire straits so to help out I offered to buy her Turkish property she got as part of her divorce settlement. I needed additional borrowing on my mortgage so I contacted Nationwide." ...  Read the complete review

This is an update of 20 May 2008 to the review below. Nationwide have revised their interest rates downwards, so they are now way off the pace and well below the competition. Their only attraction for me now is the facility to get cash out of ATM's abroad without charges, but I shall have to carefully consider if this makes financial sense in view ...  Read the complete review

Avoid Nationwide at all costs!!!!!!

They have recently lost a cheque for over £3000, and as yet have not resolved the matter.
Their solution to this problem? Please call back tommorow (which of course i did, only to be told to call back the following day and so on).I have asked them to reimburse the money, and they have refused leaving me £3000 out of pocket.
They have promised on countless occassions to contact me and never do and i have now reached a point where i am sick and tired of doing these peoples jobs for them and have now taken legal advice and am preparing to close my account.
Nationwide will not accept responsibility for their mistakes (of which there have been numerous since i joined them over 1 year ago)

* Is your current bank charging you to use ATMs? * Does your current bank charge high interest rates for credit? * Sick of boring, dull ATM screens? * Are the staff unhelpful, unfriendly or just plain stupid? Well... its time you changed to NATIONWIDE BUILDING SOCIETY! As a building society ...  Read the complete review

Avoid! I've been with them 15 years, but recently they've gone down hill. I have a 4 accounts and a mortgage with them. I am looking forward to closing them all soon - no point in paying your monthly salary for a "proud to be different" service. Expect: - To be ignored on the online account email (even when you ...  Read the complete review

INTRODUCTION Just before my 13th Birthday i decided to open a "Smart Account" with Nationwide to put my savings in. Looked on there website for all the information i needed (all my questions were asked at the branch!) and then i went to my local branch which is just a 5 min bus ride away to apply. MY EXPERIANCE When ...  Read the complete review

The Nationwide Building Society is one of the best building societies available and there must be a branch in every high street in the country with a range of services that are always expanding and the existing facilities getting better! I've had an account with Nationwide for the whole of my life and I have opened another five different ones in ...  Read the complete review