Nationwide Building Society offers various ways to manage your money, and setting up a standing order is a common and convenient way to handle regular, fixed payments. Whether it's your rent, a monthly transfer to savings, or contributions to a family member, standing orders provide a consistent and automated solution.
But how do you go about setting one up with Nationwide? Let's dive in!
The Ultimate Guide: Setting Up a Nationwide Standing Order
Are you ready to take control of your recurring payments and simplify your financial life? Fantastic! Let's get this done.
Step 1: Understand What a Standing Order Is
Before we begin the practical steps, it's crucial to understand what a standing order truly is. A standing order is an instruction you give your bank (in this case, Nationwide) to pay a fixed amount of money to a specific recipient at regular intervals (e.g., weekly, monthly, quarterly).
It's important to differentiate it from a Direct Debit. While both are regular payments, a Direct Debit is set up by the organization you're paying (with your permission), and the amount or date can sometimes vary. With a standing order, you are in control of the amount, frequency, and recipient, and the payments are fixed.
Step 2: Gather Your Essential Information
To ensure a smooth setup, gather the following details before you start:
- Your Nationwide Account Details:
- Your sort code (6 digits)
- Your account number (8 digits)
- Your Online Banking login details (if using online methods) or your Telephone Banking passnumber (if calling).
- Recipient's Bank Details:
- The recipient's full name or the company name.
- Their sort code (6 digits).
- Their account number (8 digits).
- A payment reference: This is crucial! It helps the recipient identify your payment (e.g., "Rent - [Your Name]", "Savings Transfer"). Always make sure this is accurate.
Step 3: Choose Your Preferred Method for Setup
Nationwide offers several convenient ways to set up a standing order. Pick the one that best suits your comfort level and accessibility.
Sub-heading: Setting Up Online via Nationwide Internet Bank
This is often the quickest and most convenient method if you're comfortable with online banking.
- Log In: Go to the Nationwide website and log in to your Internet Bank account. You'll need your customer number, passnumber, and potentially a memorable word or security code from your card reader/app for authentication.
- Navigate to Payments: Once logged in, look for a "Payments & Transfers" or "Pay & Move Money" section.
- Select Standing Orders: Within the payments section, you should find an option for "Regular Payments," "Standing Orders," or "Manage Standing Orders."
- Create New Standing Order: Select the option to "Create Standing Order" or "Set up a new Standing Order."
- Choose Account to Pay From: Select the Nationwide current account from which you want the payments to be made.
- Enter Recipient Details:
- You may be prompted to select an existing payee if you've paid them before.
- If it's a new payee, you'll need to enter their full name/company name, sort code, and account number.
- Nationwide, like other banks, uses 'Confirmation of Payee'. This system checks if the name you've provided matches the account name at the recipient's bank. This is a vital security feature to help prevent fraud. Pay close attention to the confirmation message. If it's a mismatch or close match, double-check the details with the recipient before proceeding.
- Enter Payment Details:
- Amount: Enter the exact fixed amount you wish to pay.
- Frequency: Choose how often the payment should occur (e.g., weekly, monthly, quarterly, annually).
- Start Date: Select the date you want the first payment to leave your account. Be mindful of weekends and bank holidays; Nationwide will typically process the payment on the next working day if your chosen date falls on one of these.
- End Date (Optional): You can choose to set an end date or a specific number of payments if the standing order is temporary (e.g., for a fixed loan repayment). If you leave it blank, the standing order will continue indefinitely until you cancel it.
- Reference: Add a clear and concise payment reference for the recipient.
- Review and Confirm: Carefully review all the details you've entered. Even a small mistake can lead to payments going to the wrong account. If everything looks correct, confirm the setup.
- Authentication: You may be asked to authenticate the payment using a security device (like a card reader) or through your Nationwide Banking app (e.g., biometric authentication or entering a code). Follow the on-screen instructions.
- Confirmation: You'll receive a confirmation message that your standing order has been set up successfully. It's a good idea to make a note of the details or take a screenshot.
Sub-heading: Setting Up via the Nationwide Banking App
The Nationwide Banking app provides a streamlined experience for mobile users.
- Log In: Open the Nationwide Banking app on your smartphone or tablet and log in securely (e.g., using your fingerprint, face ID, or app passnumber).
- Access Payments: Tap on the "Payments" or "Pay & Move Money" tab, usually found at the bottom of the screen.
- Find Regular Payments: Look for an option like "Regular Payments," "Standing Orders," or "View & Manage Regular Payments."
- Create New Standing Order: Select the option to "Create Standing Order" or "Set up Standing Order."
- Follow On-Screen Prompts: The app will guide you through the same steps as online banking: choosing your account, entering recipient details (including Confirmation of Payee), specifying the amount, frequency, start date, and optional end date, and adding a reference.
- Review and Confirm: Double-check all details on the summary screen.
- Authenticate: Authorise the payment using the app's built-in security features (e.g., biometric scan).
- Confirmation: You'll receive instant confirmation within the app.
Sub-heading: Setting Up In-Branch
If you prefer face-to-face assistance or don't have access to online banking, visiting a Nationwide branch is an option.
- Locate Your Nearest Branch: Use the Nationwide branch finder on their website to find the most convenient location.
- Gather Required Documents: Bring your Nationwide debit card and a form of photo ID (e.g., passport, driving license). You'll also need all the recipient's bank details (full name/company name, sort code, account number, and your desired payment reference). It's helpful to have these written down clearly.
- Speak to a Customer Service Advisor: Inform the advisor that you wish to set up a standing order.
- Provide Details: They will guide you through the process, asking for all the necessary information about the payment and recipient.
- Sign Forms: You may need to sign a physical form to authorise the standing order.
- Receive Confirmation: The advisor will confirm when the standing order has been successfully set up.
Sub-heading: Setting Up by Phone (Telephone Banking)
If you're registered for Nationwide's Telephone Banking service, you can set up a standing order over the phone.
- Call Nationwide: Dial the Nationwide Telephone Banking number (usually 03457 30 20 11 in the UK, but check their website for the most current number).
- Authenticate Yourself: You'll need your Telephone Banking passnumber and either your customer number, account number, or 16-digit debit card number to pass security checks.
- Request Standing Order Setup: Clearly state that you want to set up a new standing order.
- Provide Details: The customer service representative will ask for all the necessary information: your account details, the recipient's details, the amount, frequency, start date, and payment reference.
- Confirm Details: They will read back the details for you to confirm. Listen carefully.
- Receive Confirmation: The representative will confirm once the standing order is set up.
Step 4: Verify Your Standing Order
Once you've set up your standing order, it's a very good practice to verify it.
- Online Banking/App: Log back into your Internet Bank or Banking App and navigate to the "Regular Payments" or "Standing Orders" section. Check that the new standing order appears with the correct details.
- First Payment: After the first scheduled payment date, check your account statement to ensure the payment has left your account and appears correctly.
Step 5: Managing Your Standing Order (Amendments and Cancellations)
Life changes, and so might your payment needs. Nationwide makes it easy to manage your standing orders.
- Amendments:
- Online Banking/App: Log in, go to "Regular Payments" or "Standing Orders," select the standing order you wish to amend, and choose the "Edit" or "Amend" option. You can typically change the amount, frequency, and sometimes the end date. If you need to change the recipient's bank details, you may need to cancel the existing standing order and set up a new one.
- Phone/Branch: You can also call Nationwide's Telephone Banking or visit a branch to request an amendment.
- Note: Ensure you make amendments with enough time before the next payment is due (usually by 10 PM the working day before).
- Cancellations:
- Online Banking/App: Log in, navigate to your standing orders, select the one you want to cancel, and choose the "Cancel" or "Delete" option. You'll usually need to confirm this action.
- Phone/Branch: You can also cancel a standing order by calling Telephone Banking or visiting a branch.
- Note: Similar to amendments, ensure you cancel with enough time (typically by 10 PM the working day before the payment is due) to prevent the next payment from being processed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 10 common questions about Nationwide standing orders, answered quickly:
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How to set up a Nationwide standing order online? Log into your Nationwide Internet Bank, go to "Payments & Transfers," then "Standing Orders," and follow the prompts to "Create Standing Order," entering recipient and payment details.
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How to set up a Nationwide standing order via the app? Open and log into the Nationwide Banking app, tap "Payments," then "Regular Payments" or "Standing Orders," and select "Create Standing Order," filling in the required information.
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How to find my Nationwide standing orders? Log into your Nationwide Internet Bank or Banking App, navigate to the "Payments" or "Regular Payments" section, and you'll see a list of your existing standing orders.
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How to cancel a Nationwide standing order? Log into your Nationwide Internet Bank or Banking App, find the standing order in the "Regular Payments" section, select it, and choose the "Cancel" or "Delete" option. Ensure you do this by 10 PM the working day before the next payment.
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How to amend a Nationwide standing order? Log into your Nationwide Internet Bank or Banking App, locate the standing order, and select the "Edit" or "Amend" option. You can usually change the amount or frequency. For payee details, you might need to cancel and re-set.
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How to check the status of a Nationwide standing order? Access your Nationwide Internet Bank or Banking App and view your "Regular Payments" or "Standing Orders" section; they will be listed there with their status.
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How to set a final payment date for a Nationwide standing order? When setting up or amending a standing order, you'll have an option to specify an "End Date" or a "Number of Payments."
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How to set up a Nationwide standing order to my own savings account? Follow the same steps as setting up for another person, but use your Nationwide savings account sort code and account number as the recipient details.
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How to ensure my Nationwide standing order doesn't miss a payment on a weekend? Nationwide will typically process standing orders on the next working day if the scheduled date falls on a weekend or bank holiday when paying an external account. For transfers between your own Nationwide accounts, it should still go on the chosen date.
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How to get help if I'm having trouble setting up a Nationwide standing order? You can contact Nationwide's customer service via telephone banking, use the in-app messaging feature, or visit your nearest Nationwide branch for assistance.
