£100 share payment extended to millions – what you need to know

Around 3 million Virgin Money customers may be able to receive the annual Fairer Share Payment issued by Nationwide Building Society, which officially transferred Virgin Money's business into its operations on 2 April 2026, following its October 2024 acquisition. Over the last three years, Nationwide has paid its members the £100 share payment and, in 2025, paid a £50 ‘Big Thank You’ following its purchase of Virgin Money.

Nationwide’s Fairer Share Payment and Virgin Money

Although Virgin Money customers will continue to access accounts, apps and products under its branding for now, many have become members of Nationwide Building Society. As a mutual, Nationwide is owned by its members and, in times of strong performance, it distributes some of its profits amongst them. The payment is not guaranteed; it is determined by the board, which decides whether performance warrants payment and the qualifying criteria for payment. It has paid £100 to its qualifying members each year over the last three years.

This year’s board decision is expected by 21 May, when it will be made clear which members will receive the share payment, if any. If previous years’ rules apply, Virgin Money customers may have to wait until 2027 for the share of profits payment, as members had to meet qualifying criteria as of 31 March in the year and Virgin Money customers became members after this cut-off for 2026.

Nationwide’s Director of Retail, Stephen Noakes, commented that, “The acquisition of Virgin Money enables us to expand the benefits of mutuality, and we look forward to sharing the additional value we can create for our new members… we want there to be every reason to join Britain’s biggest building society, which continues to be the UK’s most switched-to current account provider.”

Will all Virgin Money customers qualify for Nationwide’s profit share payment?

The Fairer Share Payment is usually paid to members with a current account in addition to either a savings product or a mortgage with a minimum £100 balance. 4 million Nationwide members received the payment in 2025, up from 3.85 million members in 2024 and 3.4 million in 2023. If rules are applied in the same way going forward, around half of Virgin Money’s customers may qualify - that is, just over 3 million personal current, savings or mortgage account holders. The other half of Virgin Money’s customers are business account, credit card and personal loan customers who would have to apply for a qualifying product, such as a personal savings or current account, to reap member benefits.