How to transfer an ISA to Nationwide
Learn what an ISA transfer is, what happens if you complete a transfer and how to transfer an ISA from another provider to us.
Let’s start with the basics
How do you open a Nationwide ISA?
You can generally apply for our ISAs online, but you will need to apply at a Nationwide branch if you:
- have a British Forces Post Office (BFPO) address
- have been granted power of attorney and wish to make a transfer-in request on behalf of the donor (our customer)
- want our Fixed Rate Cash ISA and want to pay money in by cash or cheque
Can you open a children’s ISA?
If you are under 18, you cannot open a new ISA with us. We only offer a children’s savings account, not children’s ISAs.
If you are 16 or 17 and already have a Nationwide cash ISA, you can:
- still pay money into it
- transfer your cash ISA, or
- reinvest your fixed rate cash ISA into a new ISA when it matures.
How do you transfer an ISA from another provider to Nationwide?
You can transfer online or in person
To transfer an ISA from another provider to an existing Nationwide ISA, you will need to visit a Nationwide branch.
To transfer an ISA from another provider to a new Nationwide ISA, you can apply to transfer online during your application. Just make sure your provider is listed here as you will otherwise need to visit one of our branches.
- AA
- Adam & Co Investment Management Ltd
- Aldermore plc
- Bank of Scotland
- Barclays Bank
- Birmingham Midshires plc
- Brent Shrine Credit Union Ltd (My Community Bank)
- Britannia
- Chelsea Building Society
- Cheltenham & Gloucester
- Chorley & District Building Society
- Clydesdale Bank
- Co-operative Bank plc (and trading as Smile)
- Coutts and Co
- Coventry Building Society
- Cumberland Building Society
- Danske Bank (Northern Bank Limited)
- Darlington Building Society
- Direct Line Financial Services Ltd
- First Direct
- First Trust Bank
- Halifax plc
- HSBC Bank plc
- HSBC Private Bank (UK) Ltd
- HSBC Trust Co (UK) Ltd
- Intelligent Finance
- Leeds Building Society
- Lloyds Bank plc
- M&S Bank
- Market Harborough Building Society
- National Westminster Bank plc
- Newcastle Building Society
- Nottingham Building Society
- OneFamily (Post Office and AA online)
- Paragon Bank Limited
- Progressive Building Society
- Royal Bank Of Scotland plc
- SAGA
- Sainsbury's Bank
- Santander UK plc
- Scottish Widows Bank plc
- Skipton Building Society
- St. James’s Place Bank
- Swansea Building Society
- Tesco Personal Financial plc
- TSB Bank plc
- Ulster Bank Ltd
- Virgin Money PLC (formerly Northern Rock)
- West Bromwich Building Society
- Yorkshire Bank
- Yorkshire Building Society
You can transfer cash ISAs or stocks and shares ISAs
You can transfer cash ISAs or stocks and shares ISAs to us. But as we only offer cash ISAs, you will have a cash ISA after the transfer.
You must transfer over everything you have saved this tax year
If you have paid money into your non-Nationwide ISA this tax year, you will need to transfer all of that money to us. You cannot transfer just part of it.
You can transfer all or part of the money you have paid into your non-Nationwide ISA in previous tax years as long as the provider allows it. You can also choose to close your old ISA and have any interest earned paid and included in the transfer.
Compare our ISA interest rates
If you are looking to open a new ISA with Nationwide, you can compare our latest ISA interest rates today.
To get the best interest rate on your ISA, you will need to limit your withdrawals. The fewer times you can access your money, the higher your interest rate will tend to be.
Get a bit more detail
Here we will answer some common, quick-fire questions about ISAs and ISA transfers.
An ISA transfer is where you move an ISA from one provider to another.
You must follow the correct ISA transfer process to keep the ISA’s tax-free status.
ISA transfers are often done to get better interest rates or consolidate accounts.
Check for charges before transferring
Not all ISAs accept transfers and there may be charges if you transfer before the end of the ISA term.
Transfers to Nationwide
If you are transferring to us and are looking to open a new cash ISA, we will tell you what to do when you apply for an ISA with us. If you already have a Nationwide ISA and want to transfer to this account, we can help you in branch.
Transfers to other providers
To transfer your ISA to another provider, you just need to contact your new provider. They will be able to arrange the transfer for you.
If they ask for your Nationwide ISA details, use either your:
- ISA’s unique account number and sort code or, if you do not have these,
- the general Nationwide ISA details. These are sort code 07 00 93, account number 33333334 and your full personal account number as the reference number in the format 1234/123456789
You can check whether your ISA has a unique account number and sort code by logging in to our banking app or internet bank or looking at letters and emails we have sent you. If there is an account number and sort code listed, use these.
If you are 18 or over, you can open multiple cash ISAs and stocks and shares ISAs within a tax year.
Some providers will allow you to open multiple ISAs of the same type with them, for example 3 cash ISAs. However, others might only allow you to open 1 cash ISA with them at a time.
Your annual ISA allowance of £20,000 is shared between all your ISAs, across all providers.
If you open multiple Nationwide ISAs
If you open more than one cash ISA product with us, we will group these together into one portfolio cash ISA. For example, you could start the tax year by opening a fixed rate ISA with us, then later that tax year open a limited access ISA with us. You can pay into each of these separately, but your allowance will be shared between them. This is because your portfolio cash ISA is treated as a single cash ISA.
Smart Junior ISAs and CTF Maturity ISAs are not included in the portfolio.
There is no limit on how many times you can transfer an ISA each tax year.
You must follow the correct ISA transfer process to keep the ISA’s tax-free status.
Before you transfer, you should check whether there are any charges or penalties for leaving your ISA early.
Some of our cash ISAs are flexible
This means you can replace any money you take out during a tax year without it counting towards your allowance, as long as you pay it back in during the same tax year.
So if you pay £50 into your Nationwide ISA, then take out £10 and pay in another £10, we will only count this as £50 towards your £20,000 ISA allowance.
The interest you earn does not count towards your allowance.
Check your ISA terms and conditions to find out if your ISA is flexible.
If you close your Nationwide ISA
If you close a Nationwide ISA without replacing all the funds you have withdrawn in that tax year, your ISA will still be flexible. You can open a new Nationwide ISA within the same tax year, replace the withdrawn funds and it will not count towards your annual ISA allowance.
This depends on:
- if you are transferring an ISA to us or from us
- what type of ISA you are transferring
Transfers to Nationwide
If you are transferring a cash ISA to Nationwide, it will take up to 15 working days once we receive your request. It may take longer if your ISA funds have a notice period.
If you are transferring another type of ISA to Nationwide, it can take up to 30 days. You can also request a later date.
Transfers to other providers
If you are transferring a cash ISA to another provider, it will take up to 15 working days once we receive your request.
For the tax year 2025/2026, you have an annual ISA allowance of £20,000.
This is shared between all your ISAs, across all providers. This means you can pay in up to £20,000 across your ISAs, whether they are with Nationwide or another provider.
If you follow the correct transfer process to transfer a non-Nationwide ISA to us, only the money you have paid into your ISAs this tax year will count towards your annual ISA allowance. Money saved in previous tax years and the transfer itself will not also count.
Here are a couple of examples to show how this works.
Example 1
In a previous tax year, for example 2024/2025, you paid £10,000 into a cash ISA with another provider. This tax year, you have not paid anything into any of your ISAs. You decide to transfer your cash ISA with £10,000 (plus any interest) to a Nationwide ISA.
Because you have not paid anything into your ISAs this tax year, you will still have your full £20,000 ISA allowance after the transfer. So you can still pay in up to £20,000 across your ISAs this tax year.
Example 2
In a previous tax year, for example 2024/2025, you paid £10,000 into a cash ISA with another provider. This tax year, you paid a further £2,000 into your cash ISA. Your balance is now £12,000 (plus any interest).
Because you have paid in £2,000 this tax year, you have used £2,000 of your ISA allowance. So you now have £18,000 left.
If you transfer that ISA to us, you will still have £18,000 left of your allowance. We will only deduct the £2,000 you have paid in this tax year from your allowance, not the full £12,000 ISA account balance.
The best time depends on your financial circumstances and savings goals.
You can transfer your ISA at any time without affecting your ISA allowance, if you follow the correct transfer process.
Some things you might want to consider when transferring an ISA include:
- interest rates – does another provider offer a better rate?
- flexibility and account features – do you want easier access to your money or are you happy to lock away a lump sum?
- early access charges – if you have a fixed rate ISA, you might be charged for transferring before the end of your account term
Be careful when withdrawing money as you may lose your ISA’s tax-free status.
When you pay money into your ISA, follow the rules for depositing funds to avoid exceeding your annual allowance.
For more information, use the following guides.
Ready to start your ISA transfer?
Tell us what you are looking to do today and we will walk you through the steps.
Looking for more ISA support?
Tell us what you are looking to do today and we will walk you through the steps.
Compare our cash ISA rates
Find the best ISA for you and compare our ISA interest rates.
Renew your ISA
If you don't use any of your ISA allowance for an entire tax year, you will not be able to pay into your ISA until you renew it.
Your Nationwide ISA is maturing
Learn what to do if you have received a letter or email from us saying your ISA is about to mature and how to reinvest.