Nationwide Building Society has rolled out a brand new feature benefitting a possible 4.1 million women.
The UK bank has made a move to safeguard abuse survivors by allowing customers to block harmful payment references.
Threatening or abusive messages within payment references is a tactic used by abusers to maintain unwanted contact and control over the person they’re targeting.
These upsetting messages then show up when someone receives a payment in their account.
Now Nationwide, which serves 24.5 million customers, is enabling customers to hide these references on incoming transfers directly through the Nationwide app, allowing them to avoid seeing distressing messages.
UK charity Surviving Economic Abuse estimates roughly 14% of women across the country experienced economic abuse from a current or former partner in 2024 alone.
Specifically, of those surveyed by the charity, receiving threatening messages when their partner or ex-partner transferred them money was experienced by 8% of Black, Asian and other ethnic minority women, 8% of women with children, and 7% of disabled women.
This change by Nationwide on May 14, was even more necessary when you realise that 42% of the women who experienced economic abuse did not speak to anyone, even a family member or friend, about it.
Economic abuse: at a glance
- One in seven UK women experienced economic abuse in the past 12 months
- Nearly a quarter of disabled women in the UK have experienced economic abuse, while nearly a third of Black, Asian and other ethnic minority women also experienced it
- Women in London reported the highest levels of abuse with 25% affected
- About 72% of survivors said the economic abuse caused them harm
Source: Surviving Economic Abuse
Of course, this rule change will protect anyone from this abuse, regardless of gender, although the issue disproportionately affects women.
This Is Not Right
On November 25, 2024 Metro launched This Is Not Right, a campaign to address the relentless epidemic of violence against women.
With the help of our partners at Women’s Aid, This Is Not Right aims to shine a light on the sheer scale of this national emergency.
You can find more articles here, and if you want to share your story with us, you can send us an email at vaw@metro.co.uk.
Read more:
The bank has said this measure could also be rolled out to Virgin Money customers.
Nationwide reported its specialist support team, trained to identify and support customers who have disclosed or show signs of abuse, helped 312 customers in 2025, up from 213 in 2024.
This change follows previous changes like ‘safe spaces’ being implemented at 430 branches across the UK where someone experiencing domestic abuse can access support.
‘Domestic abuse doesn’t stop and start at physical harm, it can reach into everyday systems, including banking,’ says Kathryn Townsend, head of customer vulnerability at Nationwide.
‘When applied, the hide reference feature puts control back with the customer, where it belongs.’
She urges anyone affected by domestic or economic abuse to visit a Nationwide safe space or contact Surviving Economic Abuse.
Sam Smethers, CEO for the charity adds: ‘For far too long, domestic abusers have exploited everyday banking tools, like payment references, to harass and control survivors even after separation.
‘No one should feel scared when accessing their own money. We’re proud to have worked with Nationwide to co-develop this tool alongside survivors, giving them greater control by empowering them to hide abusive payment references.’
The CEO is now calling for other banks to follow suit to close ‘loopholes’ that are exploited by abusers.
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
MORE: Husband jailed for ‘sadistic’ murder of his Miss Switzerland finalist wife
MORE: Greggs fans fuming as bakery’s meal deal is now more expensive than Waitrose
MORE: Martin Lewis shares ‘scary’ rule for exactly how much you should be saving
