Millions of Nationwide members may be in line for a £100 payment this summer if the building society repeats its annual Fairer Share bonus scheme. The payment has been made for the past three years, though it has not yet been confirmed for 2026.
The potential bonus would be announced in May as part of Nationwide’s full-year results and, if approved, paid in June. Eligibility is expected to depend on account activity during the first three months of 2026, meaning some customers still have time to qualify.
According to Money Saving Expert, the scheme is “likely, though not guaranteed” to return this year, following payouts of £400 million to four million members in 2025 and £385 million to 3.85 million people the year before.
What Existing Customers Need to Do before 31 March
Eligibility rules vary depending on the type of current account held. Customers must first ensure they do not close their Nationwide current account before 31 March 2026.
For those with a FlexAccount, FlexBasic or FlexDirect account, there are three possible routes. They must either, in two of the first three months of the year, pay in at least £500 from a non-Nationwide account and make two payments out; or make 10 or more payments out in two of those months; or complete a full current account switch from another provider to Nationwide between 1 January and 31 March 2026.
Payments in must come from outside Nationwide. Payments out can include debit card transactions, Direct Debits, standing orders and bank transfers, but not transfers between a customer’s own Nationwide accounts.
Customers with FlexOne, FlexGraduate or FlexStudent accounts face simpler criteria. They must either make a payment in from a non-Nationwide account or a payment out during March 2026, or complete a full switch to a FlexOne or FlexStudent account within the same January to March window. For FlexPlus packaged account holders, paying the monthly fee is sufficient.
In addition, all qualifying members must either hold at least £100 in savings with Nationwide or owe at least £100 on a Nationwide mortgage in March 2026. According to Money Saving Expert, customers who do not meet this threshold could deposit £100 into a savings account to satisfy the requirement.
Switching Incentives and Tax Implications
Those who are not already Nationwide customers may also be able to position themselves for the payment. Nationwide is currently offering £175 to new customers who switch to its FlexDirect account using the official Current Account Switch Service, with the offer available until 4 March.
According to Money Saving Expert, switching may make it easier to qualify for the Fairer Share bonus if the same criteria apply, as fewer conditions are attached to new switchers. Customers must complete the switch by 31 March 2026 to be considered.
The £100 payment, if made, is likely to be treated as taxable savings income. In previous years the bonus was classified in the same way as interest earned on savings. Most basic-rate taxpayers would not pay tax on the sum because of the personal savings allowance, which permits up to £1,000 of savings income tax-free each year.
Nationwide reports such payments directly to HMRC for those not completing self-assessment tax returns. Individuals within the self-assessment system would need to declare the bonus themselves.
