About NatWest Mobile Banking
So I downloaded this app about two weeks ago after I saw someone mention it in a Twitter thread about switching banks. I thought, why not give it a shot? I’m not the type to overthink banking apps — I just want to check my balance, send my mate Dave the £20 I owe him for pizza, and not get locked out every five minutes. NatWest Mobile Banking is basically the official app for NatWest customers, so if you already bank with them you’re the target audience. I’m not a customer yet, just testing the waters. The whole thing is meant to let you do everything from your phone instead of logging into a desktop website. That sounds great in theory, and for the most part it works, but there’s a weird sluggishness that bugs me. It’s not terrible, just… okay. I’d give it a solid “satisfactory” but nothing wows me.
Features & Highlights
The features are what you’d expect — you can check balances, look at recent transactions, transfer money between your own accounts or to other people, pay bills, and set up standing orders. All the basic stuff. What I actually found useful is the card freeze thing. Lost my wallet last Wednesday afternoon (I think I left it at a Pret a Manger near King’s Cross) and I was able to freeze my card from the app in about ten seconds. That was genuinely helpful and saved me from panicking too much. You can also find nearby branches and ATMs, which I used once when I needed cash for a car boot sale. There’s a section for applying for new products too, like loans or credit cards, but I haven’t touched that. Honestly, the feature list is fine — nothing revolutionary, nothing missing. It’s just standard mobile banking. The face ID login works well enough, though sometimes it takes an extra second to recognise me in bad lighting.
User Experience
Here’s where I get a bit annoyed. The app looks clean enough, I’ll give it that. But the navigation feels a bit dated compared to something like Monzo or Starling. Tapping between tabs sometimes has a slight delay, like the app is thinking too hard. I tried to pay a friend back on Saturday evening and the screen just hung for a good four seconds before letting me type the amount. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but when you’re used to apps being instant, it feels like forever. The menu layout is fine once you learn where everything is, but I had to poke around a bit at first. The help section is actually decent — it explains things without being too wordy. But I do wish the home screen showed my balance without me having to tap into an account first. Little things like that add up. It’s not broken, just not as smooth as I hoped.
Pricing
The app itself is free to download, and there’s no subscription or hidden fee for using it. That’s standard for a banking app, so nothing to complain about there. If you’re a NatWest customer, you just log in with your existing details and you’re good to go. I didn’t get charged anything during my two weeks of poking around. The only potential cost would be if you go over your account limits or get hit with fees from the bank itself, but that’s not really the app’s fault. So, price-wise, it’s a zero.
Updates & Support
I haven’t needed to contact support directly because the app worked fine for basic tasks. But I did check the App Store reviews out of curiosity, and wow — some people are having a rough time. Lots of complaints about the app crashing after updates, or login issues that take days to resolve. That made me a bit nervous, honestly. I’ve had two small updates since I downloaded it, and neither caused any problems for me. But if I ever did hit a bug, I’m not super confident based on what others are saying. The app does have a “Help” section built in, and it’s pretty thorough for common issues. I’d probably try that first before calling anyone. Still, it’s not great to see so many one-star reviews about the same login problem over and over.
Security & Privacy
Security seems solid. Face ID works reliably, and I like that you can set it to require a passcode after a certain time too. The card freeze feature gave me peace of mind when I thought my card was gone. I also noticed it logs you out after a while if you leave it idle, which is good. There’s no weird permissions or anything — it just asks for the usual stuff like camera for scanning cards and location for finding ATMs. I’m not a security expert, but it feels safe enough for everyday use. I haven’t had any suspicious activity or alerts. I just wish the app wouldn’t glitch out every now and then, because that makes you wonder if something’s wrong. Probably just bad code, not a security issue, but still.
How do I freeze my NatWest card using the mobile app?
Open the app and navigate to the card management section, where you'll find a 'freeze card' option. Tapping it will instantly lock your card, which is useful if you've lost your wallet or suspect fraud. You can unfreeze it just as easily once you've found your card.
Does the NatWest app support Face ID login?
Yes, the app supports Face ID for quick and secure login. However, it may take an extra second to recognize you in poor lighting, so ensure your face is well-lit for the best experience.
Why is the NatWest app sometimes slow or laggy when making payments?
The app can experience slight delays, especially when transferring money or navigating between tabs, which may last a few seconds. This is likely due to the app's performance optimization, and restarting the app or ensuring you have a stable internet connection can help reduce lag.
How can I see my account balance without tapping into an account on the NatWest app?
Currently, the home screen does not display your balance automatically; you need to tap into a specific account to view it. This is a design limitation, but you can check your balance quickly by using the 'accounts' tab or setting up a widget if your phone supports it.
How does NatWest Mobile Banking compare to Monzo or Starling?
NatWest offers standard banking features like balance checks, transfers, and card freezing, but its navigation feels more dated and slower than Monzo or Starling. While NatWest is reliable for basic tasks, competitors provide a smoother, more modern user experience with instant updates and a cleaner interface.
