Nationwide Flex Regular Saver review – earn 6.5% interest

How to access one of the highest paying regular saver accounts.

Six months after launching, the rate has been cut for new customers. You’ll now get 6.5% rather than 8%. So is it worth it? Find out who can get it and how much you’ll make in our review.

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How much does the Nationwide Flex Regular Saver pay?

The interest rate on this account was a massive 8% AER, making it the highest-paying savings accounts available (for the moment at least). The rate is variable (so it could change), and the account will last for 12 months.

However a new issue of this regular saver in February 2024 cut the rate to 6.5%. Those with the previous issue (issue 2) will still get 8%, though as it’s variable that could drop at a later date.

You can only have one Flex Regular Saver per person.

How does the Nationwide Flex Regular Saver work?

Since it’s a monthly or “regular” saver, that doesn’t mean you can whack a load of cash in there to rake in the interest.

For a start, there’s a monthly limit of £200 that can be added each month for a year. So the most you can add to the account is £2,400. There’s no monthly minimum though, so you can skip months if you choose. If you do, you won’t be able to carry over any unused allowances.

The account also closes after 12 months, which is when the interest is paid. The money will then be moved into a standard Nationwide savings accounts, so you’ll want to transfer that to a better paying account at the time.

Can you make withdrawals?

Unlike with most regular savers you can withdraw the money during the year three times without penalty. You’ll also be able to put up to £200 back in each month you do this. So say you have £600 in the account from previous months and add £200 for the current month, but then withdraw £300, you can put £200 back in during the same month.

If you do take cash out four or more times the interest rate drops to 2.15% AER, and you’ll get this rate on the total balance from the date of the fourth withdrawal.

How much could you make in a year?

Who can get a Nationwide Flex Regular Saver?

You’ll also only be able to open one of these savings accounts if you have a Nationwide current account. It doesn’t matter which one. Personally I’d go for the FlexAccount which is no-frills but will do the job. You must keep the current account open while you have the regular saver.

You’ll need to be over 16 years old, a UK resident and happy to open and manage the account online or via the app.

If you already have a previous issue of the Flex Regular Saver still open then you won’t be able to open up this new edition until that matures (i.e. after 12 months).

Opening a Nationwide Flex Regular Saver

Once you have the current account, you can simply open the Flex Regular Saver from your online or app banking. The first deposit, of at least £1, must be paid within 28 days.

The money needs to be added each calendar month, so if you’re opening it towards the end of a month make sure you add the cash straight away so not to miss out.

You can add cash by standing order (not a bad idea to ensure you don’t forget), or just transfer it from a different account.

You can only open one of these in your name, even if you have both a solo and joint Nationwide current account.

Nationwide Flex Regular Saver summary

How does it compare?

At the time of writing this is the second highest paying regular saver, just below First Direct’s 7% paying account and above the Club Lloyds monthly saver at 6.25%. However as you can pay more into those other accounts each month you’ll make more interest in a year with those. They are also fixed so the rate can’t change in the first 12 months.

You can see other regular saver rates here.