Personal finance expert Martin Lewis has delivered an urgent message to Nationwide Building Society customers, urging them to take immediate action to secure eligibility for a potential £100 cash bonus.
Critical Deadline Approaching
During his recent Martin Lewis Money Show Live broadcast on ITV, the consumer champion explained that Nationwide account holders must ensure they are actively using their current accounts before the crucial deadline of 31st March. This proactive usage is essential to qualify for the building society's Fairer Share payment scheme, which has provided cash bonuses to eligible members in previous years.
Understanding the Fairer Share Scheme
The Nationwide Fairer Share payment represents a £100 cash bonus distributed to qualifying members of the mutual building society. Typically announced between March and May each year, with payments following in June, this initiative is designed to reward active members by sharing the organization's profits. Eligibility has historically required a combination of factors including maintaining a qualifying current account alongside either savings products or a mortgage.
Martin Lewis provided specific guidance based on previous years' requirements: "Ensure you are using your current account between now and the 31st of March. 'Use' definitions vary but if you're spending on it and using it normally you will generally be fine. Then you need either £100 or more in savings or you need to owe £100 on your mortgage in March this year."
Practical Steps to Secure Eligibility
The finance expert offered practical advice for those concerned about meeting the criteria. He suggested that customers who might not otherwise qualify could consider depositing £100 into Nationwide's Flex regular saver account, which currently offers a competitive 6.5 percent interest rate. For additional security, he recommended placing £150 in the account to ensure the threshold is comfortably met.
Lewis emphasized the time-sensitive nature of this opportunity: "This is the period where you have to qualify for it. If you don't think you'll do that now, then get £100 in its Flex 6.5 per cent regular saver or maybe put £150 in to be safe and hopefully then that will trigger you getting the £100 payment later in the year as long as you've got a current account."
Nationwide's Mutual Philosophy
Nationwide has previously explained the rationale behind such payments, stating: "Because we're a mutual, we share our success with our members. That's why we gave more than 12 million eligible members £50 in 2025. It was our way of saying thank you for helping us purchase Virgin Money and building something bigger together."
The building society has noted that eligibility criteria can vary between different payment schemes, meaning customers who received previous bonuses may not automatically qualify for the Fairer Share payment. This underscores the importance of taking proactive steps to meet the specific requirements for each opportunity.
Historical Context and Future Uncertainty
While Nationwide has operated the Fairer Share scheme for three consecutive years, Martin Lewis clarified that there is no guarantee it will continue in 2026. However, given the pattern established since 2023, he advised customers to position themselves for potential eligibility should the building society announce another round of payments this spring.
The consumer expert's warning comes at a critical juncture, with just weeks remaining before the presumed qualification period concludes. Nationwide customers now face an important financial decision point, balancing the minimal effort required to potentially secure a £100 bonus against the risk of missing out through inaction.
