Nationwide issues cash warning as thousands have just 30 days left to claim free £50 bonus
Nationwide customers have just 30 days left to claim their £50 bonus payment before the deadline passes.
The cut-off date is January 1, 2026 and anyone who hasn’t redeemed their bonus by then will miss out.
Nationwide has handed out bonus payments to more than 12 million members through its Big Nationwide Thank You initiative, following the acquisition of Virgin Money.
Most customers received their £50 ‘Thank You’ bonus in their accounts, but some were sent paper cheques instead.
Anyone who received a cheque must pay it in before the end of the year or they will lose the money.
To qualify, members needed to hold a Nationwide account on September 30, 2024 and still be customers when payments were made.
They also had to show activity on their account during the 12 months leading up to September 2024.
Eligible customers received £50, but those with paper cheques rather than direct deposits now face a deadline to claim their payment.
Nationwide is offering deals for customers | GETTY / NATIONWIDE The mutual’s website states that “cheques must be paid in by 1 January 2026 to make sure you don’t miss out on the payment.”
Members qualified if they met at least one of the following:
• made a qualifying transaction on a current or savings account
• held a minimum of £100 across their Nationwide accounts
• had at least £100 in residential mortgage debt
Customers who switched to a Nationwide current account between July and September 2024 through the Current Account Switch Service also qualified automatically.
Anyone who received a cheque must pay it in before the end of the year or they will lose the money
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GettyDebbie Crosbie, Nationwide’s chief executive said: “The Big Nationwide Thank You is our way of recognising the role our members have played in building our financial strength to make our purchase of Virgin Money possible.”
The sale was finalised on October 1, 2024.
The scheme represented one of the largest member reward programmes undertaken by a UK building society, with each qualifying member receiving £50.
The scheme represented one of the largest member reward programmes undertaken by a UK building society | NATIONWIDE BUILDING SOCIETY
Whilst the majority of eligible members had their £50 deposited directly into current accounts, instant access savings accounts or limited access savings accounts, others received their payment through the post as a cheque.
For mortgage holders, the funds were transferred to the bank account linked to their mortgage direct debit, provided the account was registered in their name.
The building society has confirmed that all payments have now been issued, meaning those who received cheques are the only members still needing to take action to secure their bonus.
Recipients who have misplaced or forgotten about their cheques risk missing out on the payment entirely if they fail to deposit them before the new year deadline.
