If you’ve searched nationwide 100 bonus, you’re not alone. In the UK, people use that phrase to mean a few different Nationwide “extra money” situations — and mixing them up is the #1 reason for confusion.
Let’s explore what it usually refers to, how eligibility typically works, and how to sanity-check your own situation without guesswork.
Nationwide £100 Bonus Explained (and why people confuse it with the switching offer)
The phrase “Nationwide £100 bonus” often gets used as shorthand for either a member payment or a bank-switch incentive. They’re not the same.
What does “nationwide 100 bonus” usually mean in the UK?
Here’s the simplest way to separate the lookalikes.
| What people mean | What it is | Who it’s for | How you “get” it | Common confusion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Member £100 payment (often branded as “Fairer Share”) | A discretionary member payout Nationwide may make in a given year | Existing members who meet that year’s criteria | You don’t apply — you qualify (or you don’t) | People think it’s a switching bonus |
| Current account switching offer | A cash incentive for completing a full switch | New or existing customers who meet the switching offer rules | You complete a full Current Account Switch Service (CASS) switch and meet requirements | People expect £100 but the switch offer is a different amount |
| Other one-off member payments | Separate promotions or “thank you” payments | Depends on the promotion | Usually automatic if eligible | People assume every payment is “the £100 bonus” |
Is Nationwide’s £100 bonus “real” — and how does it show up?
If you’re eligible for a member £100 payment, it typically arrives as a credit into your Nationwide current account and appears as a clearly labelled line on your statement/app transaction list.
If you’re looking for a switching incentive, that also arrives as a credit — but it’s tied to switch completion + meeting the offer’s conditions, and the wording can differ.
Quick 5-minute check: which “£100” are you actually chasing?
- Are you trying to switch banks to get paid? → you’re talking about a switching offer.
- Are you already with Nationwide and hearing “members are getting £100”? → you’re talking about a member payment.
That one distinction determines everything that follows. Here’s what you can do next: decide which of those two you mean before you check eligibility.
Who is eligible for the Nationwide £100 bonus?
Eligibility depends on which bonus you mean.
Eligibility for a Nationwide member £100 payment
A member payment usually has two layers:
A qualifying Nationwide current account relationship
Typically: you hold an eligible current account and it must be open at the time payments are made.
Plus an additional product relationship
Often: you also need a qualifying savings relationship or a mortgage relationship — and Nationwide usually checks this as of a specific “snapshot” date in that year’s terms.
Real-world example: You opened a Nationwide current account in February, but you didn’t add any qualifying savings or mortgage relationship until April. If the snapshot date is in March, that April change may not count for that year.
Joint accounts: can both people get the £100?
This is one of the most misunderstood parts.
What tends to happen in practice
For a joint current account, the account can satisfy the “current account” part for both holders. But the “extra relationship” (savings/mortgage) may still depend on how the product is held (sole vs joint), and the year’s specific rules.
Takeaway: joint holders shouldn’t assume “one joint account = two guaranteed payments.” Always check the current year’s terms.
Which Nationwide accounts tend to qualify?
Nationwide usually limits eligibility to certain current accounts (and sometimes expects a minimum level of “everyday banking” activity).
What “everyday banking” activity can mean
Depending on the year/offer, Nationwide may look for normal usage rather than a dormant “spare” account (for example: typical credits/debits and active card use). This is where people get caught out if they opened an account but didn’t actually use it.
Which savings or mortgage products can make you eligible?
For member payments, Nationwide typically defines a “qualifying savings” or “qualifying mortgage” relationship in that year’s terms.
Savings: what people usually miss
Some products count; others don’t — and sometimes there are minimum balance rules or “held by” date rules. If you’re preparing for a future cycle, the safest approach is to set up your savings relationship well before the snapshot date and keep it steady.
Mortgage: what usually counts
A mortgage relationship is often clearer than savings, but it still depends on that year’s eligibility definition and the snapshot date.
When will you get the Nationwide £100 bonus, and how long does it take?
This depends on the type.
Member payment timeline
Member payments are often seasonal (commonly announced/paid around summer in recent years), but they are not guaranteed annually. When Nationwide runs it, you typically don’t need to apply — you just need to meet the criteria and keep your accounts open until payments are made.
Switching offer timeline
Switch incentives depend on when your full switch completes and whether you meet the offer requirements within the required timeframe. If you’re mixing these up, it can feel like “the £100 didn’t arrive” when you were actually waiting for a different scheme.
Why didn’t I get the Nationwide £100 bonus?
Most “missing bonus” cases come down to one of these patterns.
| Common reason | What it looks like | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| Wrong bonus type | You expected £100 but you were following switching-offer rules (or vice versa) | Re-check whether you meant member payment or switch incentive |
| Snapshot date missed | You opened/changed products after the eligibility cutoff | If preparing for next year, set up products earlier |
| Account not active/open | You closed or switched away the account before payout | Keep the relevant account open through the payout window |
| Product didn’t qualify | You had savings/mortgage, but not the qualifying type | Check the exact product list in the current year’s terms |
| “Everyday banking” not met | Account existed but had little/no real usage | Build routine usage well before the snapshot date |
Here’s what you can do next: if you believe you qualified, use Nationwide’s own eligibility information/checking process in the app/website or contact support and ask them to confirm which eligibility condition failed (if any).
Tax: is the Nationwide £100 bonus taxable in the UK?
This depends on the scheme.
Member payments are often treated like interest
In recent years, Nationwide member payments have commonly been described as treated as interest for UK tax purposes. What that means in plain English: many people won’t need to do anything if their total savings interest stays within their Personal Savings Allowance, but higher-rate/additional-rate taxpayers (or anyone with substantial savings interest) may want to keep a record and check HMRC guidance or speak to an accountant.
Practical scenario: if you already earn interest across multiple banks and you’re close to your allowance, an extra payment can push you over.
Don’t mix this up with the Nationwide switching bonus
This matters because the action steps are totally different.
CASS: what a “full switch” actually means
A full Current Account Switch Service (CASS) switch generally moves your balance, incoming payments, and outgoing payments (like Direct Debits) from the old bank to the new one under a regulated switching process. Many switching offers only pay out if you do a full switch, not a partial/manual move.
Common switching-offer requirements (the usual trio)
- A minimum pay-in
- A certain number of Direct Debits
- A certain level of debit card spending (and a completion deadline)
Let’s make this simple: treat switching-offer terms as their own checklist (separate from member £100 payment rules).
How to maximise your chances for the next Nationwide £100 payment
This section is about the member payment version.
Set things up early
Because member payments often use a snapshot date, the safest move is to have your qualifying current account and your savings/mortgage relationship in place well ahead of time.
Keep your setup simple
People tend to run into trouble when they open multiple accounts, switch repeatedly, or leave accounts dormant. Aim for a steady, easy-to-understand setup.
Month-by-month mindset (simple version)
Q1: ensure your qualifying products are open and used. Spring: avoid closing/switching away the “qualifying” account. Summer: watch for announcements and check your statement/app.
FAQs (People Also Ask style)
Can existing Nationwide customers get the £100 bonus?
Yes — the member £100 payment (when offered) is aimed at existing customers. Switching offers can be for new or existing customers depending on the campaign terms.
Can you get it more than once?
Member payments can happen in multiple years, but each year is typically a separate decision and set of criteria. Switching incentives are often limited depending on the offer.
Do you need Direct Debits for the £100 bonus?
For the member £100 payment, Direct Debits are not necessarily the deciding factor — it’s usually about having the required product relationships and meeting activity rules. For switching offers, Direct Debits are commonly required.
Is it guaranteed every year?
No. A member payment is typically discretionary and depends on Nationwide’s decision and that year’s terms.
Is it a scam if I’m asked to “apply” for it?
Be cautious. Member payments are typically automatic if you qualify. If you’re asked to click unusual links, share passcodes, or “verify” banking details outside official Nationwide channels, treat it as suspicious.
Social signals: how people talk about the Nationwide £100 bonus (Reddit, Facebook, X)
This section summarises typical discussion themes people raise on public forums and social platforms — without quoting individuals directly.
Reddit: common themes
Users often discuss the confusion between the member payment and the switching offer, compare “checklist” eligibility, debate joint account outcomes, and ask tax/“is it interest?” questions.
Public Reddit links:
Reddit thread example (r/beermoneyuk)
Bank switching guide thread (r/beermoneyuk)
Facebook: common themes
During payment windows, discussions often include “Did anyone else get it yet?”, reminders about eligibility dates, and frustration about missing out despite being a customer for years (usually because the rules are specific).
Public Facebook links:
Which? (public post)
Nationwide Building Society (public post)
X (Twitter): common themes
People often react to “key dates” and eligibility reminders shared by publishers and local news accounts, with a mix of “nice surprise” and “why didn’t I qualify?” responses.
Public X links:
Example post (public)
Example post (public)
Final recap — what to do next
If you came here for nationwide 100 bonus, your next step depends on which “£100” you meant:
If it’s the member £100 payment: confirm you have the right product setup, check the year’s snapshot date rules, and keep your account open through the payment window.
If it’s a switching offer: treat it like a separate campaign with its own checklist (full switch + conditions + timeframe).
Here’s what you can do next: screenshot your current Nationwide product list (current account + savings/mortgage) and compare it to the current-year eligibility wording inside Nationwide’s official pages/app. If you think you qualified but weren’t paid, ask Nationwide support to confirm which specific condition you didn’t meet.
Author expertise note
This guide is written in a practical UK personal finance explainer style used by business and consumer publications, based on ongoing coverage of UK current accounts, switching incentives, and member-owned building society benefits.
