You may want to check how your account is set up
Members of Nationwide Building Society may want to confirm if they are impacted by a lesser-known restriction on certain accounts. The matter was was put in the spotlight when a customer queried about their account settings.
The person explained that they previously held a credit card and savings account with the mutual society. They had recently opened a joint account with their partner and were curious as to when this would appear on their mobile app. Nationwide informed the customer: “It can take seven days for the account to show on your account list, if it’s been longer than this please call us on 03457 302011 to look into this further.” When you first apply for an account, you can specify that you want it to be a joint account.
Alternatively, a sole current account can be converted into a joint account by adding another person to your existing account, which can be arranged by calling up Nationwide. Both parties need to be present on the call to organise this, either in person or via a conference call.
Having a joint account implies that any funds in the account are jointly owned, and both parties can spend and withdraw money from the account. If there is an overdraft, both parties are jointly liable, and Nationwide can request either party to repay the overdraft.
While you both control the account equally, there is one account rule where the privileges are not equal between you. Information on the Nationwide website clarifies: “You’ll both be members of Nationwide, but only the first named account holder will have the right to vote on Nationwide matters.”
What can Nationwide members vote on?
Members with voting rights can influence crucial decisions, such as the appointment of board members. As part of the 2025 annual general meeting, members cast a ballot for a charitable donation towards various causes that Nationwide supports.
Your ballot was worth a £1 donation to your chosen charity, from among four charities that Nationwide supports. The charities supported include Centrepoint, Action for Children, Dementia UK and The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, with £500,000 in donations split between them, in line with where the votes were cast.
Nationwide was asked to clarify what matters members get to vote on.
You can apply for a joint account with any of these four current accounts:
- FlexPlus
- FlexDirect
- FlexAccount
- FlexBasic.
Customers can apply for any of these accounts as joint accounts online. You may also be able to request to open one of these accounts as a joint account over the phone or in branch.
