Nationwide Building Society is offering new student account holders £100 in free cash and £120 in Just Eat vouchers, a total of £220, as part of the relaunch of its FlexStudent account for the 2026-27 academic year. The deal, available from July 15, requires students to deposit £500 and make five debit card payments by December 11 to receive the £100 cash within two weeks.
Overdraft and Fee-Free Features
The FlexStudent account offers an interest-free and fee-free overdraft of £1,000 in the first year, £2,000 in the second year, and £3,000 in the third year. It also includes commission-free purchases and free cash withdrawals abroad.
Last year, Nationwide’s student account deal attracted 48% of the student market, according to the bank. Tom Riley, director of Retail Products at Nationwide, said: “Starting university is an exciting milestone, but it’s completely normal for both students and parents to feel concerned about managing money independently for the first time. Taking some time to research and prepare before term starts can make the transition much smoother. A good place to start is by opening a student current account, which can help make everyday finances easier to manage.”
Expert Reactions
Andrew Hagger, personal finance expert from Moneycomms, commented: “The high street providers are starting to announce their student bank account offers for 2026/27, with Nationwide looking to build on last year's dominant performance where it took 48% of the market. The Just Eat promotion was a big success last year with more than half a million takeaway vouchers downloaded - a massive hit with students. Interestingly, 11% of Nationwide Student bank accounts were opened in branch, showing how those perhaps opening a bank account for the first time value that face-to-face service.”
Rachel Springall, a finance expert at Moneyfacts, added: “An essential part of any student current account is a generous interest-free overdraft, and combining this with cost-saving incentives and free cash can make a huge difference to students. Nationwide’s FlexStudent account offers an attractive bundle, the £100 cash bonus can go towards the cost of study materials, and Just Eat vouchers help students save a bit of cash when ordering takeaways or groceries.”
How to Claim
To qualify for the offer, students must open a FlexStudent account, deposit at least £500, and make five debit card transactions by December 11, 2026. The £100 cash bonus is paid within two weeks of meeting the conditions. The £120 in Just Eat vouchers are provided as part of the account benefits.
