If you keep an eye on UK banking, you’ve probably heard the names NatWest, Santander and Barclays a lot. They’re the three biggest high‑street banks, and each week they roll out new offers, policy changes or tech updates that can change the way you manage money. In this guide we break down the most useful headlines and give you clear steps to make the most of what these banks are doing.
NatWest has just launched a new mobile app feature that lets you freeze your card with a single tap. It’s handy if you misplace your wallet or suspect fraud. To use it, open the app, hit the ‘Freeze Card’ button, and you’re done – you can unfreeze it instantly when you find the card. The bank also announced a limited‑time cash‑back scheme for groceries: 2% back on weekly spend up to £150. If you shop at major supermarkets, set a reminder to claim the cash‑back each month through the Rewards tab.
Santander rolled out a credit‑score monitoring tool that’s free for all account holders. It pulls data from the major bureaus and shows you a simple colour‑coded rating, plus tips to boost your score. Sign up in the online banking portal under ‘Tools & Insights’. The bank also introduced a lower‑interest personal loan for customers with a “good” rating – the APR starts at 3.9% for loans up to £10,000. Compare the total cost against other lenders before you commit, and use the loan calculator on Santander’s site to see monthly payments.
Both NatWest and Santander have been pushing contact‑less payments beyond the usual card tap. You can now link a virtual card to Apple Pay or Google Pay and set a custom spending limit for online gambling sites. This helps you stay within budget while still enjoying the convenience of one‑click deposits.
Barclays announced a partnership with a leading AI firm to improve fraud detection. The system learns your spending habits and alerts you instantly if something looks off. Make sure you’ve turned on push notifications in the Barclays app so you don’t miss any alerts. Additionally, Barclays is testing a ‘pay‑later’ option for big‑ticket items, letting you split payments over six months with no interest – but only if you pay on time each month.
For regular savers, Barclays has increased the interest rate on its “Boost” savings account to 1.1% AER. The catch? You need to deposit at least £1,000 and keep it in for 12 months. If you’re comfortable with that lock‑in, the higher rate beats many current offers from rival banks.
All three banks are also reacting to the UK government’s new open‑banking rules. They’re making it easier to share your data with third‑party budgeting apps. If you use a finance tracker, look for the ‘Connect Bank’ button inside the app and follow the on‑screen prompts. It usually takes under five minutes to grant access securely.
So, what should you do right now? First, check the mobile apps of NatWest, Santander and Barclays for any new offers that match your spending habits. Second, enable alerts and security features – they’re free and can save you from fraud. Third, if you’re considering a loan or a higher‑interest savings product, use each bank’s online calculator to compare total costs or gains.
Keeping up with these banks doesn’t have to be a chore. A quick weekly glance at your inbox for bank newsletters or a short scroll through the app’s ‘News’ section will keep you ahead of changes that could affect your wallet. Stay informed, stay safe, and make the most of what NatWest, Santander and Barclays put on the table.
There’s still time for some bank customers to claim a £175 bonus if they started switching their account before Nationwide’s March 31st deadline. To pocket the cash, applicants must meet certain requirements, including moving direct debits and making a card transaction. Similar offers from NatWest, Santander, and Barclays could also be on the table with slightly different rules.
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