NatWest Review
NatWest is one of the UK's major high street banks, offering a full range of personal banking products including current accounts, savings, credit cards, loans, mortgages, and insurance. It combines traditional banking access with a strong mobile app, useful digital tools, and a Reward current account aimed at customers who want everyday banking with cashback-style benefits.
Key Features
| FSCS Protection | Yes — eligible deposits protected up to £120,000 per person |
| Monthly Fee | Select: £0 | Reward: £2/month | Premier: subject to eligibility |
| Reward Account | Earn up to £5 a month in Rewards when account conditions are met, plus retailer offers |
| Mobile App Rating | 4.8/5 (Apple App Store) | 4.9/5 (Google Play) |
| Top Savings Rate | Digital Regular Saver: 5.25% AER variable on the first £5,000, saving £1–£150 per month |
| Overdraft Rate | 39.49% EAR variable representative rate on standard adult current accounts |
| Spending Abroad | Standard debit-card non-sterling transaction fee is 2.75%; packaged/premier accounts may differ |
| Get Cash | Card-free ATM withdrawals using a secure code from the mobile app |
| Receipt Features | Capture, manage, and store receipts through the mobile app |
| Apple Pay / Google Pay | Yes — supported |
| Branch Access | Branch access available, but local coverage varies and some branches are closing |
| Telephone Banking | Telephone banking support available |
NatWest at a Glance
- NatWest is a major UK high street bank with a strong focus on digital banking. Its Reward account has a £2 monthly fee and can earn up to £5 a month in Rewards when customers meet the account conditions, including having qualifying Direct Debits and logging into the app. The app includes features such as spending insights, card controls, savings round-ups, receipt capture, and Get Cash for card-free ATM withdrawals.
NatWest Services
NatWest provides comprehensive banking services including personal current accounts, instant-access savings, the Digital Regular Saver, fixed-term savings, cash ISAs, credit cards, mortgages, personal loans, and insurance. Its current account range includes the fee-free Select account, the Reward account, student and graduate accounts, and Premier options for eligible customers.
✅ Pros
- Strong mobile app with high user ratings on both Apple App Store and Google Play
- Reward account can earn up to £5 a month in Rewards when conditions are met
- Digital Regular Saver pays 5.25% AER variable on the first £5,000, with £1 to £150 monthly deposits
- Get Cash allows card-free ATM withdrawals using the mobile app
- Receipt capture and receipt management features are available in the app
- Savings round-ups can help customers save automatically
- FSCS protected up to £120,000 for eligible deposits
- Apple Pay, Google Pay, and contactless payments supported
- Full-service banking range including mortgages, loans, credit cards, savings, and insurance
⚠️ Cons
- Reward account has a £2 monthly fee; the live account wording does not describe this as waived by the £1,250 monthly pay-in
- Arranged overdraft rate is high at 39.49% EAR variable on standard adult current accounts
- Standard debit-card foreign currency spending has a 2.75% non-sterling transaction fee
- Foreign cash withdrawals can be costly compared with specialist travel cards and digital banks
- Branch network has reduced in recent years, so local access depends on postcode
- Credit card rewards are less competitive than some specialist reward cards
- Some app and account features are subject to eligibility criteria
Why We Like NatWest
We like NatWest because it gives customers the reassurance of a full-service high street bank while still offering genuinely useful app features. The Reward account can offer value for customers who meet the monthly conditions, the Digital Regular Saver is competitive for regular savers, and tools such as Get Cash, card freezing, savings round-ups, and receipt capture make the app stronger than many traditional banking apps.
How We Compare Digital Banks
Compared with digital-only banks such as Monzo or Starling, NatWest offers a broader full-service banking relationship, including branches, mortgages, savings, loans, credit cards, and insurance. Its app is strong for a high street bank, with features such as Get Cash, savings round-ups, card controls, and receipt capture. However, standard overseas debit-card use is still more expensive than many digital banks, and overdraft borrowing remains costly. NatWest is best suited to customers who want a traditional bank with a capable app and useful Reward account features, rather than those primarily looking for fee-free travel spending.
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Financial Information Disclaimer
The information on this website is provided for general guidance only and may not always reflect the latest fees, rates, or terms offered by each bank. While we do our best to keep content accurate and up-to-date, you should always check the bank's official website or app before applying for an account. Nothing on this site constitutes financial advice.
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