Key facts
- Nationwide said the Member Exclusive Bond pays 5.3% interest over a 30-month term.
- Savers can deposit between £1 and £10,000 only in the first 14 days after opening.
- Nationwide said a saver depositing the full £10,000 would receive £1,381 in interest at the end of the term.
- Katie Horne of savings platform Flagstone said a single 0.25% base rate increase is not expected to move fixed rates much further.
- Eligibility requires being 16 or older and holding a qualifying Nationwide or Virgin Money account since at least November 2, 2026.
Nationwide building society launched a fixed-rate savings account paying 5.3% interest on November 7, 2026. The Member Exclusive Bond is available only to Nationwide members, of whom there are more than 19 million. Nationwide said the account is part of its commitment to reward existing members for their loyalty.
The bond has a 30-month term. Savers can pay in between £1 and £10,000, and deposits are accepted only during the first 14 days after the account is opened. Nationwide said someone saving the full £10,000 would receive £1,381 in interest at the end of the term. The account can be opened at a branch, online or through Nationwide's app, and is limited to one per saver. Applicants must be 16 or older and must have held a qualifying Nationwide or Virgin Money account since at least November 2, 2026.
The launch came two days before the Bank of England raised the main base rate to 4%. Katie Horne, at the savings platform Flagstone, said banks have been building an anticipated hike into fixed-term savings rates for several months and that a single 0.25% base rate increase is not expected to move fixed rates much further. The report said the 5.3% rate puts the account on a par with the top-paying fixed-rate savings accounts over two and three years.