Help give Nationwide members a genuine choice in board elections
Nationwide members can nominate candidates for the board — but 250 member nominations are required for a candidate to appear on the ballot.
I am seeking those nominations so members can have a genuine choice at the 2026 AGM.
✔ One-page form
✔ Takes about 2 minutes
✔ Return by email
Submitting a nomination does not commit you to voting for me later. It simply allows my candidacy to appear on the ballot.
As featured in
Are you eligible to nominate?
You can nominate me if you are 18 or over, and for the last two years you have continuously:
- Held at least £200 in a Nationwide savings or current account, OR
- Borrowed at least £200 on a Nationwide mortgage.
If this applies to you, you are eligible to nominate.
How to nominate James
The process is straightforward, and it only takes 2 minutes:
- Download the nomination form.
- Complete Part B. Only one page needs to be completed and signed.
- Email it back. Send a photo or scan to: nominate@james4nationwide.co.uk
Nomination deadline
All nomination forms must be delivered to Nationwide before the end of the financial year under the society’s rules. To allow time to print and deliver all the forms, please return your form by:
28th March 2026
Why I am seeking nominations
Nationwide is the UK’s largest building society and is owned by its members.
Members have the right to nominate candidates for the board, but this rarely happens because the rules require 250 nominations for a candidate to appear on the ballot.
My objective is simple:
To ensure members have a genuine choice in board elections and that the society benefits from strong governance and effective oversight.
Media coverage
Some examples of articles that quote me:
Nationwide building society’s members deserve real votes
Storm brews over Nationwide chief executive’s pay package worth up to £7m
Nationwide pumps £1bn into Clydesdale Bank after Virgin Money deal
Don’t turn up! Big firms bar investors from AGMs
Nationwide accused of ‘rampant profiteering’ as it hikes credit card rates by up to 50%
Nationwide’s self-righteousness has been exposed as a sham
Nationwide faces member backlash over boardroom cronyism
Nationwide is paying out £600m to its members. But should it be?
What does it mean to be a building society member?
About me
James Sherwin-Smith
- Former Senior Vice President at Mastercard responsible for real-time payments infrastructure
- Former Oliver Wyman consultant specialising in financial services
- Author of research on co-operative banking, payments and governance
- Nationwide member
James believes mutual organisations work best when members have meaningful representation, transparency and accountability.
FAQ
Do I need to post you the form?
No, you can photograph the signed page and email it.
Do I need to provide my account number?
Not mandatory, but recommended to speed up verification.
Can I nominate more than once?
No. You can only nominate me once.
We have a joint account, can we both nominate you?
No. Only the first named account holder is eligible to nominate.
Does nominating mean I must vote for you later?
No. It simply allows the candidacy to appear on the ballot.
Help give Nationwide members a genuine choice
95 nominations received (as of 9th March)
A minimum of 250 valid and eligible nominations required
Please return your form to James by 28th March 2026.