Nationwide Building Society has launched a large-scale initiative in April 2025, quietly transferring funds to millions of its members across the UK. While details have emerged gradually, reports from the Swindon Advertiser suggest the payments are part of a broader gesture linked to recent structural changes within the organization.
The initiative has sparked interest among account holders, some of whom have received unexpected amounts. As speculation continues, many are now checking their eligibility and trying to understand the conditions behind these deposits.
Eligibility Criteria for the £50 Payment
To qualify for the £50 bonus, members must have been part of Nationwide on September 30, 2024, and still hold membership as of April 30, 2025.
In addition to meeting these time-based conditions, they must also have either completed at least one transaction on a current or savings account, or maintained a balance of £100 or more in a current account, savings, or mortgage, at some point during the 12 months leading up to the end of September 2024.
These criteria are designed to ensure that recipients are actively using Nationwide’s financial products. The payments began landing in accounts from Wednesday, April 9, and will continue until April 30.
Members who qualify but haven’t received the payment are advised to wait until this date before contacting support.
Joint Accounts and £100 Payments
While the standard bonus is £50 per person, some members have noticed £100 payments when logging into their banking apps. This higher amount applies to joint accounts. As stated on Nationwide’s official website:
“Should you only have a joint current account, this is where we made the payment.”
This means that joint account holders who both meet the eligibility criteria will receive £50 each, resulting in a £100 credit to the shared account. Examples include couples with a mortgage or savings account, where the joint account is “used by two customers.”
This distinction has created brief confusion, as some assumed the payment was doubled in error.
How This Fits Within the Wider ‘Fairer Share’ Program
The £50 thank-you bonus follows a similar £100 payment in June 2024 under the Nationwide Fairer Share scheme. That initiative rewarded nearly 4 million members who held a current account and either savings or a mortgage.
“When we profit, so do our members,” the society states, reinforcing its mutual status, where profits are shared with members rather than external shareholders.
The Fairer Share scheme and Big Thank You initiative together represent a broader shift toward direct reward strategies in member-owned banking institutions.
Visibility and Member Reactions
Some users only became aware of the payment after checking their apps, with initial reports of incoming funds beginning on April 9. While most accounts have already received the payment, some members are still awaiting theirs.
Nationwide has emphasized the phased rollout and urges patience until the end of the month. The move has been welcomed by members as a rare and tangible return on loyalty, especially at a time when financial institutions face increased scrutiny over customer treatment and transparency.
