Millions of Nationwide customers received a pleasant surprise earlier this year in the form of a £50 reward, but time is running out for some to claim it. The building society has issued an urgent reminder that anyone who received their payment by cheque must deposit it within the next three weeks or risk losing the money forever.
With the busy Christmas period approaching and banks closing for holidays, customers are being advised to check their post and paperwork immediately. If you are holding onto one of these cheques, you have until the first day of 2026 to pay it into your account.
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Three Weeks Left to Claim Your Cash
While most eligible customers received the money directly into their bank accounts back in April, a significant number of payments were sent via post. These cheques were issued to members where a direct transfer was not possible.
According to Nationwide, these cheques have a strict validity period. The final cutoff date to deposit them is January 1, 2026. Once this date passes, the cheques will become invalid, and the £50 reward will be forfeited. Since banks and post offices have reduced hours over the festive season, it is vital to act now rather than waiting until the last minute.
Why Nationwide Sent This Payment
This specific payout is separate from the annual ‘Fairer Share’ scheme that many members are familiar with. This £50 bonus was a special one-off gesture known as “The Big Nationwide Thank You.”
It was distributed to celebrate Nationwide’s acquisition of Virgin Money, a deal that was completed in October 2024. The building society wanted to show gratitude to its 12 million loyal members whose support contributed to the financial strength required to finalize the buyout. In total, over £600 million was shared among eligible customers.
Who Qualified for the £50 Reward?
Not every customer received this payment, as there were specific criteria in place. To be eligible, you must have held a current account, savings account, or mortgage with Nationwide on September 30, 2024.
In addition to holding a product, you needed to meet certain activity levels. This generally meant having a balance of at least £100 in your account or mortgage, or completing at least one transaction in the twelve months leading up to September 2024. Customers also needed to still have their account open when the payments were processed in April 2025.
How to Check if You Are Owed Money
If you believe you met the criteria but have not seen the money, it is worth investigating. Qualifying members should have received an email or letter confirming their payment earlier this year. If you have moved house recently or do not use online banking, a cheque might be sitting in a pile of unopened mail.
Nationwide has advised that customers who have not received updates but believe they are eligible should contact the building society before the January deadline. You can do this by visiting a local branch or using their secure online banking services to verify your details.
Key Eligibility Criteria
- You held a qualifying product on September 30, 2024.
- You maintained a balance of at least £100 or made a transaction in the preceding year.
- You still held the account in April 2025 when payments were distributed.
- You are not a business customer, as this was for personal members only.
Important Dates to Remember
| Event | Date |
| Virgin Money Acquisition | October 2024 |
| Payment Eligibility Cutoff | September 30, 2024 |
| Payments Distributed | April 2025 |
| Cheque Cashing Deadline | January 1, 2026 |
