Whether you’re looking for a simple current account, a business account or one that rewards you with cashback, NatWest has plenty of options. It even runs generous switching bonus offers from time to time to attract new customers. NatWest carries all the advantages of a big, established bank, such as security, customer service and a network of branches if you prefer to deal with your bank in person.
To make comparing even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Fees, features and customer service across 20+ of the most popular banks are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score the better the account – simple.
NatWest gives you cashback on your bills and travel insurance, but it does have a monthly fee, so make sure you compare your options and get the best deal.
NatWest Premier accounts offer a series of benefits, such as worldwide travel insurance. However, Premium accounts are only available if you have a certain annual income or amount of savings, so you’ll have to check if you meet the criteria first.
NatWest’s student account offers a decent overdraft option and often has seasonal incentives. However, if these perks don’t appeal to you, you can check and compare our selection of other student accounts.
With NatWest’s children account, children between 11 and 17 can manage their pocket money easily and safely. However, if your children are younger and you want them to get an early start at budgeting, you can compare the alternatives on our dedicated page – some accounts can be opened when they are as young as seven.
There are 4 business accounts to choose from with NatWest. The bank offers a straightforward business account for those that either have been trading for over a year with a turnover below £1 million or have a turnover above £1 million and have been trading for less than a year. NatWest also offers a free mobile account for sole traders or limited companies with up to two owners and a balance of up to £100,000, a start-up account for those trading for less than a year with a turnover of less than £1 million, and a community account for not-for-profit organisations.
Case study: Jamal stays with NatWest as he feels his money is safe
"I have a NatWest current account and I’ve been with NatWest since my mum opened an account for me when I was at school. I stayed with it as a student at uni, and then when I graduated I carried on. It’s been really easy to deal with the bank.
I feel really safe with this bank because once, I was a victim of fraud. They took around £2,000 really quickly. NatWest alerted me and stopped it really fast. And I got the money back.
If there’s one thing you’d tell a friend who’s thinking of getting this, what would it be?
I don’t get perks like cashback with this account, but I think they really protect my money so I’m happy to stay."
Jamal Brown
Kent
NatWest customer reviews
In our independent 2024 customer satisfaction survey, 91% of NatWest’s users said they’d recommend the brand to a friend. Customers highlighted the bank’s competitive rates and loyalty rewards. However, some cited disappointing customer services. Here’s what some of those NatWest customers had to say:
“It does what it is supposed to do, with a handy app to speed up transactions and to view account details”
“NatWest answer all my questions and offer lots of extra perks such as round ups and budgeting tools”
“Easy to use, good app access and reasonable fees”
On Trustpilot, NatWest has a rating of 1.5 out of 5 from 6,700 reviews. On the Apple App Store, it scores 4.8 out of 5 from almost 779,000 reviews, while on the Google Play Store, it scores 4.7 out of 5 from 411,000 reviews. These were updated in November 2024.
Using a NatWest debit card abroad
If you are looking to use your NatWest debit card abroad you may be interested in how much you will be charged when using your card or withdrawing cash.
One of NatWest’s most popular current accounts, the NatWest Select Account, charges a 2.75% currency conversion charge for overseas cash withdrawals in Europe (EEA) and a 2.75% currency conversion for transactions for everywhere else.
For overseas card transactions, for example paying the bill at a restaurant by card, there is a 2.75% currency converion charge for Europe (EEA) and a 2.75% currency conversion charge for everywhere else.
Hands-on test: I tried out NatWest’s mobile banking app
"I like that NatWest has all my accounts visible in one place. I can see my current account, mortgage, savings account and my son’s Rooster Money account as soon as I log into my app. Another thing that NatWest does is allow you to add an account from another bank to your app, so you can have visibility of all your accounts in one place.
Sending money is easy. I feel secure when I do it, as NatWest has biometric confirmation in place before the payment is sent. Features like that and round-ups into your linked savings account make banking with NatWest easy."
Perks. Different NatWest current accounts come with different perks, but in general, you have a good range of options to choose from, including cashback on bills, travel insurance, mobile phone insurance and car insurance (breakdown cover).
Multiple ways to bank. With NatWest you can manage your account online 24/7, but you can also register to telephone banking or discuss your option in person at your local branch.
Mobile banking app. NatWest’s mobile app has a clean design and allows you to manage all your NatWest accounts in the same place – including the business ones.
Global acceptance. NatWest’s cards are all either Mastercard or Visa, so you won’t really have to worry about where you can use them and where you can’t.
Round the clock assistance. Got robbed of your card during your dream holiday in the Caribbean? No worries, if you need support, you can call NatWest’s customer service 24/7 and they’ll help you out.
Earn cashback through MyRewards. If you opt for a Reward current account, you’ll be able to earn cashback with selected NatWest partner brands or even just when you pay direct debits from your account and use the app regularly.
Switching bonus. You might be able to earn a cash incentive if you move your main bank account to NatWest from another banking group.
No interest paid on account balances. While NatWest can offers some decent perks, unfortunately it doesn’t usually pay interest on account balances.
Monthly fees. Its reward and premium accounts come with monthly fees.
Eligibility. You have to meet certain criteria to take advantage of the perks on NatWest’s reward and premium accounts, so make sure you read the small print.
Customer service information for NatWest
Email support
Telephone support
In-app or live chat
Contact form
Branch support
Opening an account with NatWest
To open an account with NatWest, you’ll have to provide the following information:
Your personal details and address history
How much you expect to pay in each month
Your salary details and any assets you have
Your nationality/citizenship
Proof of identity (passport, driving license, EEA or Swiss national identity card)
Proof of address (utility bill, bank statement)
You can open a NatWest account online or by visiting a branch.
Our verdict: Is NatWest a good bank?
NatWest has a broad range of bank accounts, from simple current accounts to those that come with perks such as cashback or travel insurance. The reward accounts tend to come with fees, so you might want to work out if you will earn enough cashback to make it worth it. To benefit from the cashback, you need to pay a certain amount into the account each month or have a certain level of income, so make sure you understand the rules. Unlike some top current accounts, NatWest doesn’t pay interest on balances. If NatWest’s current accounts are not for you, you can also compare other current accounts here.
Does Natwest offer any promotions, discounts or refer-a-friend offers?
Yes, Natwest has a switching deal on its Reward accounts. You can earn £180 to switch.
Does Natwest offer joint accounts?
Yes, Natwest offers joint accounts for 2 people. You can apply online or in branch.
Does Natwest offer premium/packaged or premier accounts?
Yes! There isn’t a limit to the number of accounts you can open. Remember though to check out competition, and be wary of opening multiple accounts just to use features like overdrafts.
Currently, none of NatWest’s current accounts offers interest.
You can find the terms and conditions on NatWest’s website – pick your current account and you’ll be able to download them before beginning the application process.
We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables has the source: Moneyfacts Group PLC. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.
Valentina Cipriani was a writer at Finder UK. She wrote news, features and guides about banking and credit cards, helping people to improve their financial lives. She holds an MA in International Journalism. See full bio
Jason is a writer and editor. He worked as a senior subeditor for Finder for 5 years and in that time became familiar with a wide range of financial products and services. Before that, he worked for Australian Associated Press. He has a BA from Macquarie University in Australia. Jason loves to help other people find new ways to save money. See full bio
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