Thousands of customers are set to lose access to their accounts as Sainsbury’s Bank begins transferring services to NatWest.
The lender has confirmed the exact date credit card holders will be temporarily locked out during the system switch.
Sainsbury’s Bank credit card holders face being shut out of their accounts from 5pm on October 3. The lockout forms part of NatWest’s acquisition of the supermarket bank’s financial services.
The restriction affects credit card customers amongst the 1.8 million account holders transitioning to NatWest’s infrastructure.
The account freeze marks the beginning of a transfer window running from October 3 to 6.
Fresh terms and conditions take effect from October 3, 2025.
The transfer is the next step in moving all Sainsbury’s Bank customers to NatWest, with the full migration expected to be finished by the end of the year.
Mortgage customers were the first to switch over, completing their move to NatWest’s systems earlier this year.
NatWest’s takeover covers the supermarket bank’s full range of personal financial products, including credit cards, personal loans, savings accounts, and mortgages. All remaining accounts are scheduled to transfer by December.
The acquisition was approved by the High Court in April, giving the deal formal legal backing. NatWest officially took control of Sainsbury’s credit card, loan, and savings accounts on May 1.
The deal involved NatWest buying Sainsbury’s core banking operations, including mortgages, loans, and deposit accounts, last year.
While ownership changed in May, the technical transfer of accounts to NatWest’s systems is being completed in stages over several months.
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The technical transfer of accounts to NatWest’s systems is being completed in stages over several months.
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GETTYThe staggered migration schedule reflects the complexity of transferring multiple product lines. Each category requires separate system integration, with mortgages already completed and other products following through autumn.
Customer notifications began reaching credit card holders in July, whilst those with loans and savings received correspondence from August.
Between September and October, NatWest will dispatch guidance on subsequent procedures, detailing registration for their online banking platforms.
major provider confirms exact date thousands will get locked out of accounts
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GETTYSainsbury’s Bank will send farewell communications to departing customers during this period. Following the October transition, account holders will receive NatWest’s welcome correspondence as their products migrate across.
A Sainsbury’s Bank spokesperson said: “There are no immediate changes and nothing customers need to do right now. We will continue to keep them informed throughout the transfer process.”
The phased communication strategy ensures customers receive timely updates before their accounts move.