Millions of Nationwide customers urged to act now to increase chances of free £100 payment

Nationwide customers might have to do something soon to be eligible for a possible £100 bonus payment if one is coming this year.

For the past three years the building society has run something called the Fairer Share Payment Scheme where profits are shared among customers, and while it hasn't been confirmed for this year if it comes there are likely to be rules as there were the previous times.

Nationwide told Metro they would 'decide on a Fairer Share payment for 2026 and it will depend on our financial performance', and if past versions of the payout are anything to go by meeting the criteria by the end of March is important.

They said: "That assessment will be made after our financial year end, with the eligibility criteria for this year being agreed then too. The decision will be announced as part of our full year results in May."

In the past three years customers with an active Nationwide current account and either a savings account or cash ISA with at least £100 in it, or a mortgage with at least £100 still left to pay have been eligible.

Nationwide have run this for the last three years, they might do it again for 2026 (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

For those with a FlexAccount, FlexDirect or FlexBasic there have been some other eligibility conditions which might apply again if they do it for 2026.

Money Saving Expert explains that if you've got one of these then you need to have either paid in at least £500 from another non-Nationwide account in two of the first three months of the year, or have made 10 payments out of the account that aren't transfers to other Nationwide accounts.

Given that the second of those three months is about to end, the window of opportunity to meet this potential criteria is closing and it's probably a bit late to make 10 payments out of the account before the end of this month.

The past rules appear to have been put in place to prevent people from just moving their money around different Nationwide accounts to simulate the appearance of using them often.

You might also be eligible if you make a full current account switch from another provider to Nationwide between 1 January and 31 March.

Nationwide could pay out £100 to customers, assuming they haven't spent it all on those adverts with Dominic West (Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

Again, be aware that Nationwide haven't guaranteed they're doing the Fairer Share Payment Scheme this year and it's possible the criteria might be different if they keep on with it.

Things are also a bit different for customers on FlexOne, FlexGraduate or FlexStudent accounts.

MSE said assuming the criteria is the same as last year they'll have to either make a payment in or out of the account to or from a non-Nationwide account next month.

Alternatively, making a full current account switch to FlexOne or FlexStudent before the end of March could make one eligible.

Meanwhile, if you're on a FlexPlus packaged account you might be alright just paying the monthly fee.

Once again all of this is entirely up to Nationwide to decide and any payout depends on their profits to be shared and how they pick the criteria.