Nationwide: when will I get my grocery cashback?

Millions of customers are being paid cashback on supermarket shopping from Nationwide’s new scheme - but there’s confusion over when the payments will be made. We reveal the dates you’ll be paid, and what to do if you don’t receive anything

Customer paying cashier at supermarket checkout
(Image credit: Getty images)

Millions of Nationwide customers are starting to be paid cashback on their supermarket shopping thanks to a new scheme launched by the building society - but some have expressed confusion over when the payments will be made.

In February, Nationwide unveiled a £100 million cashback scheme that would pay out 5% cashback to most current account customers on shopping at supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Aldi.

With food prices going up, along with mortgages and council tax, Nationwide says its cashback deal forms part of its drive to support members during the cost of living crisis.

The scheme runs until 30 April, with three separate payments landing in customers’ accounts. The maximum cashback is £10 a month.

The building society told The Money Edit that all members had now received their first payment, as the last payments were made on 2 April. This cashback relates to supermarket shopping in February.

However, some customers say they haven’t received their cashback yet, and the building society has replied saying cashback earned in February will actually be paid by 11 April, at the latest.

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Kalpana Fitzpatrick, digital editor of our sister site MoneyWeek, says she only received her cashback payment today (4 April). 

We explain how the scheme works, the exact dates you should receive your cashback by, and what to do if you don’t get paid any cashback.

When will I receive the cashback?

Nationwide says cashback payments will be made within six weeks of the end of the calendar month. This means for supermarket shopping done in February, payments will land in customers’ current accounts by 11 April.

However, the building society says it has actually already made all its February cashback payments.

For cashback earned in March, payments will be made by 12 May. Cashback earned in April will be paid by 12 June.

I haven't received my cashback. What should I do?

If you think you are eligible for the cashback scheme but haven’t received a payment yet for the money you spent at supermarkets in February, contact Nationwide.

You can speak to the building society by giving them a ring (03457 30 20 11, Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm), sending a message on webchat, or popping into a branch. 

Explain that you haven’t received your cashback yet and Nationwide can look into it for you.

Who can get the Nationwide cashback offer?

If you have an adult Nationwide current account and pay for your grocery shopping by debit card, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay or Google Pay, you can get cashback.

There is no need to register or sign up to qualify for the cashback option, and any money earned will be credited to your current account.

All adult current accounts qualify including FlexPlus, FlexDirect, FlexAccount, FlexStudent, FlexGraduate and FlexBasic.

Cashback is not available on the FlexOne children’s account. 

New customers opening a Nationwide current account before 30 April will also qualify for the cashback offer.

If you pay through PayPal, other third-party providers or by direct debit, you won't earn any cashback. And you won't get cashback on payments made outside the UK.

Where can I get cashback?

You can get cashback, up to a limit of £10 a month at major supermarkets, both online and in-store.  

This includes Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons, Aldi, Lidl, Waitrose, Iceland and the Co-op. Other outlets include Ocado, Whole Foods Market, Farmfoods, McColl’s, Quality Save and Snappy Shopper. 

Nationwide has a list of supermarkets and convenience stores where you can earn cashback on its website.

There are some exclusions, for example you can’t earn cashback at petrol stations on either fuel or groceries. In-store cafes, opticians and third-party bakeries or independent outlets in-store are also excluded, as well as deliveries made by Deliveroo.

How much cashback can I get?

You earn a flat 5% on your shopping and this is automatically applied with no need to opt into the scheme.

Cashback is capped at £10 per calendar month, per card, and is available until 30 April.   

But Nationwide says that in the event £100 million is paid out in cashback before this time, the cashback offer will end.

You’ll need to spend £200 each month to be eligible for the maximum cashback of £10 per month. If you have a joint account, you can both earn up to £10 a month across both cards.

Any cashback earned will be paid automatically within six weeks of the end of the calendar month in which it was accrued. Payment will be made to the same account that was used for the original purchase.    

You may also get a text message from Nationwide confirming any cashback payment, providing you have earned a minimum of £3 cashback (to get £3 cashback, you’d need to spend £60 at supermarkets during the month).

If you take an item back to a supermarket and get a refund, you’ll be able to keep the cashback you originally earned, as confirmed by Nationwide in these tweets

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Ruth Emery

Ruth Emery is contributing editor at The Money Edit. Ruth is passionate about helping people feel more confident about their finances. She was previously editor of Times Money Mentor, and prior to that was deputy Money editor at The Sunday Times. A multi-award winning journalist, Ruth started her career on a pensions magazine at the FT Group, and has also worked at Money Observer and Money Advice Service. Outside of work, she is a mum to two young children, a magistrate and an NHS volunteer.