Online shopping security checks

When shopping online with your Nationwide debit or credit card, you'll sometimes be asked to authenticate yourself using Visa Secure. This is just to let us know it’s really you making the payment, and the fastest way to do this is with our Banking app.

This authentication step is part of a regulation for all financial providers in the UK to help fight fraud and increase the security of your online payments.

It’s called ‘Strong Customer Authentication’. And it’s there to keep your money safe and stop scammers from using your card online.

Using our Banking app is the easiest way to quickly and safely confirm your online purchases if you have a compatible smartphone or tablet.

When you’re at the checkout, we can send a secure message to your app. You can then use this to authenticate using fingerprint or facial recognition. Or you can tap in your passnumber.

If you have a debit card, you can authenticate your payments using your Nationwide card reader.

If you’ve registered for the Internet Bank and don’t have a card reader, it’s easy to order a card reader.

Not registered for the Internet Bank? Register for the Internet Bank and we’ll automatically send you a card reader.

These unique codes can be used at the checkout to confirm it’s really you making the online payment.

They can be sent to you by text message, email or landline, using the contact details you’ve given to us. So, it’s really important you keep your contact details and those of any additional card holders up to date to avoid any delays when shopping online.

How to update your contact details

Text messages in the UK are free, but some network providers might charge for receiving these abroad. Please check with your network provider.

You’ll know it’s a genuine text message or email from us if:

• you get it just after you (or the joint account holder) have entered your card details online
• it contains the last 4 digits of your card number.

You can request a new code up to 3 times.

If a text message code isn’t coming through, check your signal. Or, if your network supports WiFi calling, you can try this instead.

If an emailed code isn’t coming through, refresh your inbox and check your junk or spam mailbox.

If you receive a code you weren’t expecting, check if your number has been used on a joint account or where you have power of attorney.

If you suspect there’s been fraudulent activity on your account, please report fraud immediately.

Make sure your contact details with us are up to date, and always let us know if they change. This will help avoid any delays when shopping online.