News

Nationwide customers to receive £100 share payments into their accounts

Published

3 years ago

May 19, 2023

NATIONWIDE, the largest building society in the UK, has informed many of its customers that they will be receiving £100 next month as part of its new share offer. The financial institution confirmed this announcement on Friday, revealing that the money will be distributed to customers with savings or current accounts who meet specific criteria.

As a building society owned by its customer members, Nationwide aims to ensure that its members benefit from profits through improved saving rates and other advantages. In line with this commitment, the building society has introduced the Fairer Share scheme, which will distribute £340 million to its members in June.

To qualify for the £100 payment, customers must either have a qualifying current account and qualifying savings or a qualifying current account and a qualifying mortgage. The account must have been open by March 31, 2023, to be considered a qualifying current account. The following types of accounts meet the criteria:

FlexPlus: Customers must pay the monthly fee for maintaining the account.
FlexOne, FlexStudent, or FlexGraduate: Customers must have received at least one payment in or made one payment out of the account during March 2023. Charges, interest, or balance adjustments do not count.
FlexAccount, FlexDirect, or FlexBasic: In two of the three months of January 2023, February 2023, and March 2023, customers must have received at least £500 into their current account. Transfers from other Nationwide accounts are not considered. Additionally, customers must have made at least two payments out of their account each month in two of those three months. Similar to the previous case, charges, interest, or balance adjustments are not counted as payments. Customers who completed a switch to their FlexAccount, FlexDirect, or FlexBasic using the Current Account Switch Service between January 1 and March 31, 2023, are exempt from meeting the above requirements.
Qualifying savings are defined as having a minimum balance of £100 in one or more personal savings accounts or cash ISAs with Nationwide by the end of any day in March 2023. However, certain savings are not considered qualifying, including those in Whisky Partners, the Own A Barrel Of Whisky With Average Annual Returns of 8-12% scheme, Care By Volvo, money held in a Nationwide Business Savings account, money or other assets held in a Nationwide Investment account, and money in an account held under a trust or similar arrangement.

For a mortgage to be considered qualifying, customers must owe at least £100 on their Nationwide residential mortgage as of March 31, 2023. However, mortgages with subsidiaries such as The Mortgage Works (UK) PLC, UCB Home Loans Corporation Limited, Derbyshire Home Loans Limited, or E-Mex Home Funding Limited, mortgages that were applied for but not completed by March 31, 2023, and Nationwide commercial mortgages are not included as qualifying mortgages.

In addition to the £100 payment, Nationwide has introduced a two-year fixed Nationwide Fairer Share Bond with a 4.75% interest rate. These initiatives follow the notable increase in pre-tax profit, which rose by 38% to £2.2 billion in the year leading up to April, compared to £1.6 billion the previous year.

Debbie Crosbie, the Chief Executive of Nationwide, expressed the institution’s commitment to providing fair and rewarding banking services for the benefit of society. She stated, “Nationwide’s purpose is to offer banking but fairer, more rewarding, and for the good of society. That’s why we have introduced the Nationwide Fairer Share, which will see us return even more value back to members. We are able to do this because of our financial strength

News

Reform reveals west Wales candidates for Senedd battle

Published

9 hours ago

March 25, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Monkton councillor tops Pembrokeshire list as party confirms Carmarthenshire names and includes Haverfordwest councillor in unwinnable Swansea spot

REFORM UK has unveiled its full list of candidates for the 2026 Senedd election, setting out its challenge across west Wales including Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire.

The party has named Susan Claire Archibald, a sitting councillor for Monkton on Pembroke Town Council, as its lead candidate for the Ceredigion Preseli, Mid and South Pembrokeshire regional list.

Speaking to The Herald, Archibald said: “I am honoured to represent Reform UK and Wales.” She added that a fuller statement outlining her priorities would be released in due course.

The remaining candidates on the Pembrokeshire regional list are Paul Marr, a former prison officer, Michael Allen, Elisa Randall, Peter John and Bernard Holton.

Carmarthenshire candidates named

Reform has also confirmed its list for the Caerfyrddin and Llanelli region, with Gareth Beer placed first, followed by Carmelo Colasanto, Sarah Edwards, Christopher Brooke, Alan Cole and Michelle Beer.

The announcement forms part of a nationwide rollout of candidates as the party seeks to establish itself as a credible electoral force ahead of the 2026 vote.

Thorley listed in Swansea region

Among the names included elsewhere is Scott Thorley, a Haverfordwest-based councillor and the first Reform representative elected to Pembrokeshire County Council.

Thorley appears on the party’s list for the Gower and Swansea West region, where he is placed sixth.

Under the Senedd’s proportional representation system, candidates placed lower on regional lists are significantly less likely to be elected, meaning his position is widely viewed as a paper candidacy to complete the slate.

Election framing

Reform Wales leader Dan Thomas said the party was offering voters a stark political choice.

He said: “After a hundred years of failure, Labour are finished in Wales. The choice at this election is what comes next — common sense and a fresh start with Reform, or independence by stealth with Plaid Cymru.”

The Herald understands that further announcements, including candidate profiles and policy details, are expected in the coming weeks as the campaign begins to take shape.

Crime

Man bailed after serious assault in Fishguard town centre

Published

11 hours ago

March 25, 2026

Tom Sinclair

POLICE are appealing for witnesses following a serious assault in Fishguard that has left a man in hospital.

The incident happened on Main Street at around 11:00pm on Saturday (Mar 21), when the victim was reportedly punched, sustaining head injuries. He remains in hospital receiving treatment.

A 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm (GBH) and has since been released on bail while enquiries continue.

Dyfed-Powys Police are urging anyone who witnessed the incident, or who may have information that could assist the investigation, to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police quoting reference: 26*227686.

Information can be provided online via the Dyfed-Powys Police website, by emailing [email protected], by calling 101, or by sending a direct message on social media.

Alternatively, information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org.

News

Childcare funding boost announced in Wales

Published

11 hours ago

March 25, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Hourly rate to rise as costs increase

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has confirmed an increase in the hourly rate paid to childcare providers under its Childcare Offer, following a review of funding levels.

The Minister for Children and Social Care, DAWN BOWDEN MS, announced that the rate will rise to £6.67 per hour from April 6, 2026. The increase of 4.18% comes after feedback from childcare providers and sector data gathered during 2025.

The Welsh Government said the change is designed to help providers cope with rising costs, including increases to the National Living Wage.

The Herald understands the review drew on responses from the Childcare Offer’s Annual Survey, as well as information from Care Inspectorate Wales’ Self-Assessment of Service Statement (SASS).

The move follows a policy shift announced last year to review the rate annually, rather than every three years, in a bid to make funding more responsive to pressures facing the sector.

As part of the update, the maximum charge for meals will also increase by 4.18%, which ministers say is intended to balance affordability for both providers and parents.

Dawn Boden said the Welsh Government remains committed to supporting the long-term sustainability of childcare services, adding that officials will continue working with the sector to explore further improvements.