If you don’t want your account(s) to move on to NatWest systems, you can close them in line with your terms and conditions before they move. 

You can close your credit card account(s) but you must pay back any outstanding balance, in line with your terms and conditions. If you close your credit card account, the card will stop working immediately but you’ll still be expected to make the minimum payment each month until your balance is paid off in full. If you don’t pay your balance in full, your account will move to NatWest, and you must make at least your minimum monthly payments until it’s cleared. If you can afford to, you might want to pay more than your minimum monthly payment, as it’ll mean you pay less interest as the balance will be paid off quicker. 

You can close your loan account(s) but must pay back any outstanding balance, in line with your terms and conditions. If you close your loan account, you may be charged an early settlement fee. If you settle your loan before your account has moved onto NatWest systems, because you don’t want your account to move to NatWest, and you let Sainsbury’s Bank know by phone (at 08085 40 50 60) or secure message that this is the reason; any early settlement fee you have been charged will be refunded, usually within 24 hours.

You can close your savings account(s) without any notice period, penalty fees or charges. Please call Sainsbury’s Bank on 08085 40 50 60 You’ll then be paid interest that has accrued up to the date that your account is closed. 

If you have an Individual Savings Account (ISA), you can arrange a transfer by contacting your chosen provider.

Until your account(s) move, Sainsbury’s Bank will continue to be your point of contact as they are today. You’ll still be able to access your account(s) as normal in Sainsbury’s Bank’s mobile app and online banking – your username, password and security details will remain the same. We’ll share more information on how to contact NatWest before your account(s) move to NatWest systems.

A savings account held in trust is a savings account opened and managed by a trustee on behalf of a beneficiary, for example a parent could open an account in trust on behalf of their child.

Savings accounts held in trust will not transfer to NatWest.

We’re writing to all customers who have a savings account held in trust to explain what happens next and the options available.

You can also visit moneyhelper.org.uk/en for free and impartial guidance on money and finances. MoneyHelper provides advice on savings accounts and can recommend further, trusted support if you need it.

Once your account(s) have moved to NatWest systems, expected towards the end of 2025, it is proposed that:

• You’ll continue to be able to use your existing card, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, and PIN number. If your card expires, or is lost, stolen or damaged before your account(s) have moved on to NatWest systems, you’ll be issued a new Sainsbury’s Bank branded card, after that a new NatWest branded card will be issued to you. 

• There will be no change to:
  • Your credit card limit 
  • Your interest rate(s) and minimum payment requirements 
  • Any 0% offer in place, this will remain until the end of the promotional period
  • How you collect Nectar points
  • Any direct debits you have set up
• You won’t be able to:
  • Transfer the balance of your Sainsbury’s Bank Credit Card account to another credit card within the NatWest Group – this includes NatWest, Ulster Bank Northern Ireland, Coutts, Holt’s Military Bank and Royal Bank of Scotland. You also won’t be able to transfer any balance from a credit card within the NatWest Group to your transferring Sainsbury’s Bank Credit Card.
  • Repay your credit card balances with a debit card or by phone unless you make a payment from an existing NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland or Ulster Bank Northern Ireland current account. This is in line with how NatWest apply payment protection rules. There are a number of other ways you’ll be able to repay your credit card, including paying by direct debit, using NatWest’s online banking or mobile app, at your local NatWest branch, by post or using another bank’s online or telephone banking services.
  • Use your credit card to purchase any travel money without incurring a cash advance fee. You will also be charged interest on those purchases from the point of purchase. You will instead get access to a number of travel related services and products you can apply for that offer fee-free FX on purchases when travelling abroad and the ability to order commission-free travel money from NatWest’s app or online website and have it delivered to a click & collect travel money bureau of your choice near you or to your home address.

Once your account(s) have moved to NatWest systems, expected towards the end of 2025, it is proposed that:

• Your loan will become a NatWest loan and you’ll be sent a new sort code and account number when your account is set up on NatWest systems. NatWest will be in touch with you nearer the time to let you know what this is. 

• There will be no change to:
  • The amount you pay each month (as long as you don’t have any outstanding payments when your account(s) transfer on to NatWest systems and you pay on time after that)
  • The date of your monthly repayments
  • The term of your loan
  • The total amount you have left to pay (as long as you don’t have any outstanding payments when your account(s) transfer on to NatWest systems and you pay on time after that)
  • Any direct debits you have set up

• NatWest will make a small accounting adjustment to your interest rate on their systems, to ensure that the items set out above remain the same. This may mean that the interest rate you see on your NatWest annual statements looks different to the one on your Sainsbury’s Bank annual statements. The accounting adjustment will not result in you paying more interest to NatWest than you would have paid to Sainsbury’s Bank, other than in the circumstances below.
• There will be some differences in how NatWest and Sainsbury’s Bank systems calculate and charge interest. As a result of these differences and/or the accounting adjustment mentioned above:
  • If you have any outstanding payments when you transfer to NatWest, and/or you don’t pay on time after that, you could pay slightly more interest on those overdue payments compared to what Sainsbury’s Bank would have charged;
  • If Sainsbury’s Bank have stopped charging you interest but you then start to be charged interest after you transfer to NatWest, you could pay more interest than you would have done if you had started to be charged interest again by Sainsbury’s Bank; and/or
  • If you choose to pay back your loan early after your account has transferred on to NatWest systems, you could pay a higher early settlement fee than you would have paid to Sainsbury’s Bank. For most customers, the early settlement fee will not be significantly different to the fee that would have been charged by Sainsbury’s Bank.

You can avoid paying slightly more interest on overdue payments after your account transfers on to NatWest systems by paying any outstanding payments you have on your account before the transfer and making your monthly payments in full and on time after the transfer. After your account has moved on to NatWest systems, please contact NatWest preferably by phone (at 0345 788 8444) if you think you have been charged more interest and/or a higher early settlement fee than you would have paid to Sainsbury's Bank. You can also contact NatWest at natwest.com/support-centre/cora.html – chat with Cora, their digital assistant which is available 24/7. NatWest will look into it and consider whether due to the circumstances above, you have paid more interest or fees than you would have been charged by Sainsbury’s Bank. If this is the case, they will repay the difference. 

• If you have a live early settlement quote from Sainsbury’s Bank when you move to NatWest systems, NatWest will honour this early settlement quote and there will be no difference between your early settlement quote and the amount you have to pay to clear your balance. Early settlement quotes are valid for 28 days.
• You should continue to make sure you pay in full and on time each month, as late payments could impact your credit score. However, after your account transfers to NatWest you will no longer be charged a fee if your payment is late.
• Any extra payment made, over and above your usual monthly payment, at the weekend or on a Bank Holiday, will no longer be taken off your outstanding loan balance on that day. Instead, NatWest will take it off on the next working day. This means you’ll be charged interest on your current balance until then. To avoid this, when you make an extra payment you should do so no later than the last working day of the week (e.g. Friday).

It’s important that you read the information about the proposed changes to savings accounts below as some of the information about fixed term savings accounts has changed since we got in touch with you earlier this year. 

Once your account(s) have moved to NatWest systems, expected towards the end of 2025, it is proposed that:

• Your savings account will become a NatWest savings account, and you will be sent a new sort code and account number when your account is set up. NatWest will be in touch with you nearer the time to let you know what this is.
• If you have a Sainsbury’s Bank ATM card, you’ll be sent a new NatWest ATM card and PIN. NatWest will be in touch with you nearer the time to let you know when to expect your new card and PIN.
• You’ll still be paid the same amount of interest on your savings account(s) and in some cases may get an increase to your interest rate once you are transferred to a NatWest savings account. 
• If you have a fixed term account that’s due to mature on the day of or up to 90 days after your product moves on to NatWest systems, your maturity date may be earlier than originally planned. In this case, it is proposed that fixed rate savings accounts will move to NatWest’s Primary Savings account and fixed rate ISAs will move to NatWest’s Cash ISA, and you’ll get instant access to your funds from the date your product moves on to NatWest systems. It is proposed that NatWest will pre-pay the interest you would have earned had your account continued to its original maturity date.
• If you have a fixed term account that’s due to mature from 90 days after your product moves on to NatWest systems onwards, your maturity date may be earlier or up to 60 days later than originally planned:
  • If your current interest rate is lower than NatWest’s lowest rate or your account forms part of the small number of accounts where the maturity date cannot be aligned with NatWest maturity timings, your maturity date may be earlier than originally planned. In this case, it is proposed that fixed rate savings accounts will move to NatWest’s Primary Savings account and fixed rate ISAs will move to NatWest’s Cash ISA, and you’ll get instant access to your funds from the date your product moves on to NatWest systems. NatWest will pre-pay the interest you would have earned had your account continued to its original maturity date.
  • In other cases, your maturity date may be up to 60 days later than originally planned. This is to align to NatWest maturity timings. If your maturity date is later than originally planned, you’ll earn interest up to that later date. If you want to access your funds before the new maturity date, you can. Any notice periods, penalties fees and charges will not apply. 
• In all cases, NatWest will be in touch with at least 60 days’ notice in advance of any changes being made and you will have the option to close your account(s) and (as appropriate) withdraw your funds early, without any notice period, penalty fees or charges applying before any changes are made if you do not wish to proceed.
• If you have a Defined Access Saver and your interest rate is lower than NatWest’s lowest rate your account will move to a NatWest Primary Savings account, and you’ll have access to your money whenever you need it. In all other cases your account will be moved to a NatWest Defined Access Saver and you’ll continue to be able to withdraw your money at least 3 times.
• You will no longer be able to automatically pay away interest accrued into another account. If you have an instant access account, you will be able to transfer interest paid to another account using NatWest’s online banking or mobile app. If you have a fixed term account, accrued interest will be paid in to your fixed term account; it cannot be transferred to another account. If you have a fixed term account, this interest will only be available at the point of maturity. NatWest will be in touch with at least 60 days’ notice in advance of any changes being made and you will have the option to close your account(s) and (as appropriate) withdraw your funds early, without any notice period, penalty fees or charges applying before any changes are made if you do not wish to proceed.
• NatWest may change the frequency of interest paid. For example, you may be paid interest monthly instead of annually (or vice versa). NatWest will be in touch with at least 60 days’ notice in advance of any changes being made.

Any complaint or claim (including claims under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and chargebacks) that relates to Sainsbury’s Bank Personal Loans, Credit Cards and Savings accounts (Claim) which started before 1 May 2025 will continue to be managed by Sainsbury’s Bank until the point your account(s) move on to NatWest systems, expected towards the end of 2025. After this point NatWest will be your point of contact, even though the underlying claim will still be against Sainsbury’s Bank. You will receive communication with more information regarding this. 

Any legal proceedings (i.e. before the courts) or pre-action steps (e.g. letters of claim or similar) which started before 1 May 2025 will continue to be managed by Sainsbury’s Bank.

From 1 May 2025, until the point your account(s) move on to NatWest systems, expected towards the end of 2025, you can continue to engage with Sainsbury’s Bank for any Claim.

After your account(s) move on to NatWest systems, NatWest will be your point of contact for any Claim arising before, on or after 1 May 2025. 

In circumstances where a new Claim relates to matters arising before 1 May 2025, when Sainsbury’s Bank had legal ownership of your account(s), NatWest will be responsible for the handling of those Claims.  

The above applies apart from in the case of legal proceedings (i.e. before the courts and related pre-action steps e.g. letters of claim). Please see further the question below “What if I have started, or plan to start, legal proceedings (i.e. before a court)?"

Any legal proceedings which started before 1 May 2025 will continue to be managed by Sainsbury’s Bank.

If you want to send a letter of claim (or other similar notice) to notify Sainsbury’s Bank or NatWest of your claim and that you may start legal proceedings, or you wish to name Sainsbury’s Bank or NatWest as a party in legal proceedings, who you issue this to will depend on when the matter arose:

• For matters arising on or after 1 May 2025, please serve legal notices to National Westminster Bank Public Limited Company, 250 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 4AA; or
• For matters arising before 1 May 2025 (even if you only became aware of them after 1 May 2025), please serve legal notices to Sainsbury’s Bank plc, 33 Charterhouse Street, London, EC1M 6HA.

If you raise a complaint, dispute or claim with respect to matters relating to Sainsbury’s Bank Personal Loans or Credit Cards arising before 1 May 2025, and the Financial Ombudsman Service or the court awards you compensation, you will be offered the option to set off the amount of compensation awarded against your loan or credit card balance, if this is considered an appropriate solution. This means that your debt owed to NatWest will be reduced by the amount of the compensation awarded.

NatWest became the data controller for your personal data from 1 May 2025, and is responsible for keeping your personal data safe and in compliance with applicable laws. Sainsbury’s Bank will continue to act as data processor on behalf of NatWest until your account moves to NatWest towards the end of 2025. You’ll find more information about what will happen to your personal data online at sainsburysbank.co.uk/transfer-scheme-faq

NatWest will send you any marketing communications on the basis of the marketing permissions you provided to Sainsbury’s Bank and, if applicable, the Sainsbury’s Group before 1 May 2025.

If you’ve provided marketing permissions for the same marketing purpose(s) to Sainsbury’s Bank and NatWest, the permission you applied to NatWest will apply, even if it’s different to the one you provided to Sainsbury’s Bank. Once your account(s) move to NatWest, NatWest will ask you to let them know how to contact you, this includes if you’d like to receive marketing communications.

The FSCS protects customers with eligible deposits up to £85,000 in total across all the savings and current accounts they hold in one regulated bank, building society or credit union. For more information about FSCS visit fscs.org.uk

Any Sainsbury’s Bank savings accounts you held are now NatWest savings accounts. NatWest also owns Ulster Bank Northern Ireland, and both NatWest and Ulster Bank Northern Ireland share FSCS protection as they operate under the same banking licence. As a result, if you haven’t already reviewed your account balances, it’s important that you do to check if your total balances exceed the £85,000 FSCS protection limit. If they do, you may wish to make a withdrawal or transfer to another regulated bank, building society or credit union (to keep your combined balance within the FSCS protection limit).

You can find out more about this on page 17 of the Customer Booklet.

You may have also received this letter as a reminder.

We wrote to our personal loans, credit cards and savings account customers to make them aware of the transfer of our account(s) to National Westminster Bank Plc (NatWest). We explained what this means and the next steps we were taking as part of the transfer. You can find a template version of the letter below:

Template version of the letter (PDF, 972KB)

We wrote to ISA account customers to let them know about the ISA transfer and what it means.  On 1 May 2025 NatWest became the ISA Manager for all Sainsbury’s Bank ISAs. You can find a template version of the letter below:

Template version of the letter (PDF, 546KB)

We wrote to our personal loans, credit cards and savings account customers to confirm that the transfer of our account(s) to National Westminster Bank Plc (NatWest) had been approved. From 1 May 2025 there have been some changes to your terms and conditions to reflect a change to the legal entity that provides your account(s), this has changed from Sainsbury’s Bank to NatWest. You can find all the information you need to understand the transfer in the documents linked below:

• Template version of the letter/email we’ve sent to you (PDF, 708KB)
• Customer Booklet (PDF, 3,436KB) – updated on 7 April 2025
• Scheme Document (PDF, 273KB)
• Explanatory Statement (PDF, 85KB)
• Legal Notice (PDF, 17KB)
• Court Order (PDF, 273KB)

We wrote to our personal loans, credit cards and savings account customers to explain when we’ll be in touch with more information about their account(s), the journey to NatWest and any actions that may need to be taken. You can find a template version of the letter below as well as a timeline outlining the key dates.

• Template version of the letter (PDF, 271KB)
• Timeline (PDF, 100KB)

Follow this link to our frequently asked questions at sainsburysbank.co.uk/transfer-scheme-faq for more information.