Nationwide Building Society has clarified its rules(Image: Getty)
Nationwide Building Society has shed light on a rule affecting customers who access its services online. The clarification came after a member asked for help.
Posting on social media, the customer explained they had recently switched to a new phone and were unable to activate biometrics on their new device. They asked: “How long is the waiting period to get these back?” Biometrics is a security feature that uses a unique personal marker to verify your identity when accessing your account. This can include fingerprint scanning or facial recognition to confirm who you are. In response to the query, Nationwide told the customer: “If you get a new phone, you’ll need to wait to re-qualify for biometric authentication on that device.”
On the question of how long this can take, the provider said: “There’s no set timescale, and we’ll usually notify you by text message when it becomes available.” The building society also pointed the customer towards a guide on the Nationwide website detailing how to set up biometric authentication.
The feature can be put in place for everyday banking purposes, allowing you to log into the app and authorise smaller and recurring payments through either the app or internet banking. Biometrics can also be used to verify your identity when logging into internet banking.
Customers can also set up biometrics within the app, providing an additional layer of security for sensitive transactions. This covers larger payments or resetting your passcode.
Warning about counterfeit bank notes
With account biometrics activated, there is no longer any need to use your card reader or debit card to log in or make payments. Nationwide also recently released guidance on how to identify counterfeit cash, following reports of fake notes appearing at one of its branches.
Nationwide Building Society has issued a warning about counterfeit bank notes(Image: Getty)
A spokesperson said: “We are aware of a rise in scammers using fake banking notes to pay people for goods and would urge consumers to always check. Suspected counterfeits should be reported to the police, and guidance is available on the Bank of England website.”
Fake notes will often feature a thick plastic sticker concealing the hologram, which if peeled away may reveal the words: ‘for props only’. Another indicator that a banknote is fraudulent is if some of the UV numbers can be scratched off with little effort.
It is also worth checking that features such as the hologram and colour-shifting inks are all present and correct.