Nationwide Building Society has issued an “advice” alert to British savers as millions of bank customers are set to see around £436 paid into their savings accounts.
New research from Britain’s biggest building society has revealed that adults in the UK are setting their sights on putting away an average of £7,535 over the coming year.
As part of its study, Nationwide surveyed more than 2,000 people across the UK to gauge savings aspirations ahead of 2026. Those in the 25-34 age bracket stand out as particularly ambitious, targeting nearly double the national average at £14,912.
However, reality may temper these lofty expectations, with 35 per cent of this specific age group anticipating they will actually save under £5,000 over the course of the year.
Nationwide Building Society is sharing savings ‘advice’ as Britons are set earn over £400 in interest
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GETTY / NATIONWIDE
Roughly a third of respondents indicated they intend to increase their savings compared to the previous year, while 43 per cent expect to match their 2024 efforts.
One in ten adults have no plans to save anything at all next year. Such ambitious targets come with a psychological toll for younger savers.
More than three quarters of those aged 18-24 admit that the prospect of saving money causes them stress, compared to 55 per cent of people in the 45-54 age range.
The pressures of early adulthood, from purchasing a first property to starting a family, may explain this heightened anxiety around finances.
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A notable disparity exists between male and female savers when it comes to their goals. Men are aiming to accumulate an average of £9,360, while women have set their sights on £5,826.
Despite this gap, when respondents were asked to identify the best saver in their lives, mothers ranked second at 16 per cent, trailing only partners at 21 per cent, with fathers coming in at just 13 per cent.
Building an emergency fund tops the list of motivations for putting money aside in 2026, cited by 43 per cent of respondents. Holidays follow as the second most popular reason at 36 per cent, with retirement planning coming third at 23 per cent.
Home improvements and securing their children’s futures each attracted 20 per cent of savers. Among those aged 35 to 44, a contrast has emerged with just 17 per cent are prioritising retirement savings, whilst 46 per cent of the same cohort are focused on emergency funds.
The allure of a new year proves powerful for most savers, with 69 per cent planning to begin their efforts in January. By contrast, fewer than one per cent wait until November to start setting money aside.
Throughout 2025, savers earned an average of £436 in interest, likely boosted by elevated interest rates. Yet a significant number missed out on potential returns entirely, with 13 per cent receiving no interest whatsoever over the year.
Nearly a fifth of people are keeping their savings in current accounts rather than dedicated savings products, forgoing the better rates available through ISAs and other accounts. A further 21 per cent earned less than £50 in interest despite the favourable rate environment.
Richard Stocker, the head of Savings at Nationwide, said: “It’s encouraging that most people aim to save in 2026, with many planning to put away more next year. However, too many are missing out on interest by leaving money in current accounts.
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“Our advice is simple: start early and save regularly to build a habit. Make use of helpful tools such as the budget calculator on our app and benefit from incentives such as our £175 bank account switching offer – which is a great way to kick start a savings habit.”
Before the year’s end, Nationwide highlighted the various deals, initiatives and savings offerings customers have been able to take advantage of in 2025:I
- £50 – The Nationwide Big Thank You
- £175 – current account switch offer
- £100 – Fairer Share payment (paid the last three years)
- FlexDirect current account – one per cent cashback for 12 months, five per cent interest on balance, access to 6.5 per cent saver.
Here is a full list of the Nationwide’s top five savings “advice” tips for 2026:
- Adopt the golden rule and never leave savings in a current account; instead place cash in an ISA or savings account
- Take advantage of smart tool with Nationwide promoting its own budgeting tool to help customers track spending and set goals
- Break down the “must-haves and “nice-to-haves” when it comes to spending to determine how much you can save
- Research the best deals from trusted sources, and do not rely solely on AI or social media for financial advice
- Use compound interest to grow small pots of cash into serious savings.