Savings passbook changes FAQs

We are committed to giving our customers choice in how they bank with us. We also want them to receive smooth and efficient service by ensuring our systems are the best they can be.

It is vital that the systems and platforms all our accounts operate on are up to date, efficient and robust.

While there are many benefits from our new technology, we can’t offer passbooks in the same way.

We know you value having a physical record of your transactions and face-to-face service. That’s why you’ll still be able to manage your account in branch. And why we’re offering a new cash card to replace your passbook.

No, your interest rate will stay the same.

If you change to one of our new savings accounts, just for existing instant or limited access passbook customers, the rate on your new account will be the same as your existing rate.

Yes, we remain committed to our branches and you can continue to bank at any of our branches.

We have the biggest banking presence on the high street. And we have renewed our Branch Promise: everywhere we have a branch, we will still be there until at least the start of 2028.

Whether you change to one of our alternative savings accounts with a cash card and savings wallet or keep your existing account, you will not use a passbook to bank in branch.

You can manage both your existing passbook account and our alternative savings accounts with a wallet and cash card online in our banking app or Internet Bank.

For now, we only have alternative savings accounts with a cash card and savings wallet for our instant and limited access customers.

However, in October 2024, we will also offer new accounts to our passbook ISA customers. Then, in December 2024, we will offer new accounts to our customers with a passbook children's savings account.

When your alternative account is available, we will write to you. You do not need to call us.

From February 2025, the passbooks for all our accounts, including ISAs and children's savings accounts, will stop working.

We will be writing to everyone with power of attorney for one of our customers.

We will let you know if you can open one of our alternative savings wallet accounts.

Your Third Party Mandate support will not be impacted by this change.

Your support from the SST to help with payments and transactions will also continue as normal.

From February 2025, your passbook will stop working.

You can keep it for your records, but we will not be able to accept it as ID in branch and you won’t need to return it to one of our branches.

We are committed to helping you continue to bank in branch, with the support of our friendly team. So we have created a new savings wallet and cash card to help you continue to bank securely in branch.

You can choose from the 3 options from now. But from February 2025, your passbook will stop working.

If you want to open one of our alternative savings accounts with a savings wallet and cash card, visit any of our branches.

You have 3 options to choose from:

• open a new savings account with a savings wallet and cash card
• keep using your existing savings account, or
• open a new savings account without a savings wallet and cash card.

Open a new savings account with a wallet and card

We have matched your existing instant or limited access passbook account to an alternative account. You will get the same interest rate as well as a cash card, savings wallet and pocket for your mini statements – so you can see your balance at a glance.

We will also transfer your incoming payments to your new account. That means that payments that currently come in to your passbook account will automatically go in to your new account.

You can visit a local branch and talk to one of our team about the changes and your options. We will take you through how to open one of the alternative savings accounts and give you a savings wallet to store your card and mini statements.

Find your new savings wallet account

Keep your existing savings account

If you want to keep your existing account, you can continue to manage your account online and in branch. But from February 2025, we will need to ask you some security questions and may request a form of ID if you bank in branch. We will not be able to accept your passbook as a form of ID.

You do not need to visit a Nationwide branch or call us to let us know.

More about keeping your account

Open a new savings account without a wallet and card

If you do not regularly use your passbook and do not want a cash card or savings wallet, we have a range of other savings accounts that might suit you better. None of these accounts will come with a passbook or savings wallet. And you can often open them online.

Compare our other savings accounts

If your Nationwide passbook account has an overseas address, including in Ireland, you can keep your existing account.

You do not need to visit a Nationwide branch or call us to let us know.

You cannot open a new savings account with a wallet and card.

If you want to keep your existing account, you can continue to manage your account online and in branch. But from February 2025, we will need to ask you some security questions and may request a form of ID if you bank in branch. We will not be able to accept your passbook as a form of ID.

More about keeping your account

If you cannot find your passbook, visit any of our branches and we will be happy to discuss your options.

You can also continue to use your savings account as you do today until February 2025.

Yes, the new savings accounts with a savings wallet and cash card will be available as joint accounts.

If you have a joint savings account, you can either:

• have a card and a wallet each, or
• share a wallet and have a card each.

You can open one new savings account with a savings wallet and cash card for each existing passbook account you hold or you can merge them.

For example, if you have 2 passbook savings accounts, you can:

• change both of these into 2 new savings accounts with a savings wallet and cash card, or
• change both of these into 1 new, merged savings account with a savings wallet and cash card.

If you have a sole savings account and move to a new savings account with a wallet, we will give you one wallet and one card.

If you have a joint savings account, you can either:

• have a card and a wallet each, or
• share a wallet and have a card each.

You can record your transactions with mini statements, with full statements and by using your cash card at cash machines.

Mini statements

When you come to a branch, we can give you a mini statement showing your savings balance and transactions. The new savings wallet will have a pocket so you can safely store your mini statements.

Full statements

Each month we will post full statements to you if you transact within the month.

Cash card

You will be able to use your new cash card at any of our cash machines to see your balance and transactions.

Our top priority is keeping our customers and their money safe.

The savings wallet is designed to be discrete.

The cash card will only be able to be used at one of our cash machines or at a branch counter with a secure PIN.

Just let us know and we can create a replacement wallet and card for you.

You will need to collect this from one of our branches.