NatWest Reward bank account review: Worth switching to?

The NatWest Reward bank account is a current account that pays you monthly and gives you extra benefits for being a member. But how does it work and is it worth it?

The last ten years have seen the way we conduct our banking change, with a move away from the high street and more of a focus on digital banking. But with an increase in the number of challenger banks such as Monzo and Starling, the more traditional financial institutions have upped their game by offering a new type of current account to attract extra customers or encourage current ones to stay.

Most of these accounts do come with a fee though, so the question is, do the benefits outweigh the costs? Let’s take a look at the NatWest Reward account in greater detail.

Natwest Reward bank account

The account was first introduced in 2015 as NatWest lost ground on its rivals thanks to accounts such as the Santander 123.

Unlike the 123 account, NatWest didn’t pay interest on credit balances. But, it paid 3% on all your direct debits, which was more generous than Santander’s tiered system.

But the last 2 or 3 years have seen banks reduce the generosity of these accounts and NatWest didn’t escape these cuts.

NatWest Reward account benefits

• £4 in Rewards for paying out at least 2 Direct Debits
• £1 for logging in to the mobile app
• you can exchange your rewards for cash or with one of NatWest trade up partners for increased value
• spend at selected NatWest retail partners to receive 1% cashback

How much does the Reward account cost?

The fee is £2 per month. Not only that, but to receive your rewards, you will also need to have 2 Direct Debits (they must be £2 or more) leave your account, and you must pay in at least £1,250 each month. The money you pay in doesn’t have to be your wages and can come from another of your bank accounts. And you can transfer the money out as soon as you like.

Who are NatWest’s partner retailers?

You will be sent personalised offers through My Rewards that will offer cashback when you shop at certain retailers using your NatWest card. The rate varies between 1% – 15%, and the partners and offers do change. Some examples include:

• Caffe Nero
• Eon
• Morrisons
• NowTV
• P&O
• Sky
• Waitrose

However, as a member, the only offer I have received is from Europcar. And as I don’t need to rent a car, it hasn’t been useful.

How does trade up work?

Instead of using your rewards for cash, you can trade up your rewards for certain shops that will give you better value. You apply through your account, and trade-ups are available as an e-code or e-voucher, which will be displayed on-screen and a copy will also be sent to your e-mail address shortly afterwards.

You can trade rewards for vouchers from

• Argos
• Avios
• Cineworld
• B&Q
• Currys
• Greggs
• John Lewis
• Marks & Spencer
• Morrisons
• Red Letter Days
• TK Maxx

You will usually get between 4% and 10% bonus if you decide to trade for a voucher.

Upgrade to NatWest Reward Platinum

If you’re a fan of the Reward account, there is the option to upgrade to Platinum. This comes with the standard benefits, plus:

• Worldwide travel insurance
• Mobile phone insurance
• UK car breakdown cover

This account does carry a fee of £20 per month.

Other benefits to banking with NatWest

Of course, other benefits come from banking with NatWest. These include

• Loyalty card hub – add all your loyalty cards to the Nectar app – you’ll never leave home without them again. Unless you forget your phone.
• Spending – get a breakdown of your spending and sort it by categories. Or, you can set yourself budgets and NatWest can keep you up-to-date with how you’re doing.
• Cash without a card – if you haven’t taken your card out with you, you can apply for a secure cash code on the NatWest app to withdraw money at any Tesco or NatWest cash machine.
• Link your other accounts – through Open Banking, you can link your other accounts to NatWest so you have a good overview of your finances.
• Digital Regular Saver – a savings account which allows you to pay in up to £150 per month for an increased interest rate.
• Free access to Rooster Money – a great alternative to GoHenry and ideal for people with children. Find out more about Rooster Money.

Is the NatWest Reward account worth it?

I’ll be blunt and say that the value you get from the account has significantly declined over the last couple of years. Ok, so you can earn £3 per month just for having your Direct Debits and logging in to the app after you pay out for the fee. But apart from that, the benefits are a little lacking.

And I still haven’t received a decent offer from NatWest retailer partners after several years, so no chance of any cashback.

When it comes to the Reward Platinum account, there’s no denying that £20 per month is quite expensive. But it could be suitable if you’re already paying for the insurances. It’s a case of adding up how much you pay now and switching if it’s over £20.

NatWest Reward account

Is there a switching incentive?

Usually, NatWest offers a bonus of as much as £200 if you switch your account over to them. You will need to use the Current Account Switch Service, have active direct debits and you cannot have received a bonus before a certain period – you will need to check the current terms and conditions.

Take a look at my post on the switch offers currently being offered.

Any alternatives to NatWest?

It’s worth checking out the Barclays Blue Rewards account and Santander Edge as both these accounts offer extra benefits to customers.

FAQs