Website terms & conditions

Terms and Conditions of Use of the National Westminster Bank Plc Internet Website.

The following information provides terms of use for our general banking products. Customers using Bankline and Electronic Services should refer to the specific terms of use for Bankline and Electronic Services.

This website is owned and maintained by National Westminster Bank Plc ("us", "we" or "NatWest"), which is part of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group ("the RBS Group"). The use of this website is subject to the following terms and conditions that you should read carefully. By using this website you agree to be legally bound by these terms and conditions. If you do not accept these terms and conditions, please do not use this website.

Use of Website

1 The information provided on this website or in any communication containing a link to this site is for personal use and information purposes only and is not intended for distribution to, or use by, any person or entity in any jurisdiction in any country where such distribution or use would be contrary to law or regulation or which would subject any member of the RBS Group to any registration requirement within such jurisdiction or country. Where any opinions are expressed on this website, they are provided by NatWest for personal use and for information purposes only.

2 Unless otherwise stated on the product pages, the services and products on this website are intended for use by residents of the United Kingdom only, and are not aimed at or intended for use by residents of any other jurisdiction.

3 Where any information on this website constitutes a financial promotion it is issued and approved for publication and distribution in the United Kingdom only.

4 This website is designed to be accessed through its principal home pages and such other pages as we may decide. If you access the site through individual pages directly, which are not designed for this purpose, you may not see important information that is relevant to information on this website. You will be referred on certain site pages to read "Legal Information". This will contain important details and relevant legal or regulatory information and should be read in conjunction with the relevant site pages.

Exclusion of Liability

5 These 'Exclusion of Liability' provisions should be read carefully as they exclude or limit our legal liability in connection with your use of this website. Nothing in these terms and conditions and in particular within the 'Exclusion of Liability' clauses shall attempt to exclude liability that it is not permissible to exclude under applicable law, including without limitation, for death or personal injury, or for fraudulent misrepresentation.

6 Nothing in these terms and conditions shall exclude or limit or restrict our duties and liabilities to you under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, or any conduct of business rules which we are bound to comply with.

7 While we have taken all reasonable steps to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the content of the website, we exclude any warranties, undertakings or representations (either express or implied) to the full extent permitted under applicable law, that the website or (including without limitation) all or any part of the content or materials, accuracy, availability or completeness of the website, are appropriate or available for use either in the United Kingdom or in other jurisdictions. If you use this website from other jurisdictions, you are responsible for compliance with applicable local laws.

8 We accept no liability (including without limitation) in either contract, tort, negligence, statutory duty or otherwise (to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law) arising out of the use of or access to this website for any errors or omissions contained in this website or if the website is unavailable and we shall not be liable for any direct or indirect:

economic losses (including without limitation loss of revenues, data, profits, contracts, use, opportunity, business or anticipated savings);
loss of goodwill or reputation; or
special, incidental, consequential loss or damage,

suffered or incurred arising out of or in connection with your use of this website and these terms and conditions.

9 Access to and use of this website is at the user's own risk and we do not warrant that the use of this website or any material downloaded from it will not cause damage to any property, or otherwise minimise or eliminate the inherent risks of the internet including but not limited to loss of data, computer virus infection, spyware, malicious software, trojans and worms. Also, we accept no liability in respect of losses or damages arising out of changes made to the content of this website by unauthorised third parties.

10 To provide increased value to users of this website, we may provide links to other websites or resources (that are not part of the RBS Group) for you to access at your sole discretion. You acknowledge and agree that, as you have chosen to enter the linked website, we are not responsible for the availability of such external sites or resources, and that we do not review or endorse and shall not be responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for (i) the privacy practices of such websites, (ii) the content of such websites, including (without limitation) any advertising, content, products, goods or other materials or services on or available from such websites or resources or (iii) the use that others make of these websites or resources, nor for any damage, loss or offence caused or alleged to be caused by, or in connection with, the use of or reliance on any such advertising, content, products, goods or other materials or services available on such external websites or resources.

11 The above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you to the extent that applicable law may not allow the limitation or exclusion of liability for incidental or consequential damages.

Personal Data

12 By agreeing to be bound by these terms and conditions, you are agreeing to be bound by our Privacy.

Copyright

13 © 2006 National Westminster Bank Plc. All rights, save as expressly granted, are reserved. Reproduction in any form of any part of the contents of this website without our prior written consent is prohibited unless for personal use only.

Trade Marks

14 This website contains numerous trade marks belonging to NatWest and other companies in the RBS Group. These trade marks include, but are not limited to, the National Westminster Bank Plc THREE CHEVRONS logo, NatWest and Primeline. If you are in doubt as to whether an item is a trade mark of NatWest or a member of the RBS Group, please contact us for clarification at the registered office address below.

Advice

15 The contents of this website do not purport to provide any financial, investment or professional advice and nothing on the pages of this website shall be deemed to constitute financial, investment or other professional advice in any way. In particular, you may wish to obtain advice from a qualified expert before making any investment decision.

Changes to this Website

16 The contents of this website, including these terms and conditions of use, are subject to change by us without notification. Additionally NatWest shall not be obliged to remove any outdated information from the website or to expressly mark it as being outdated.

Telephone Calls

17 Calls may be recorded.

Internet Communications

18 In order to maintain the security of its systems, protect its staff and detect fraud and other crimes, NatWest reserves the right to monitor all internet communications, including web and email traffic, into and out of its domain. Monitoring includes (without limitation) checks for viruses and other malignant code, criminal activity, and use or content that is unauthorised or unlawful or material that may cause offence in any way.

Australian Residents

19 Persons accessing this website from Australia should note that their access to, and use of, the information, services and products on this website may be prohibited under the Australian Corporations Act 2001 or under the RBS Group's Australian Financial Services Licence. Nothing contained in this website should be construed as an authorisation to access or use the information, services or products on this website, in Australia, where such prohibitions apply.

Regulatory Information

20 National Westminster Bank Plc. Registered in England and Wales (Registered Number 929027), Registered Office: 135 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 3UR. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. NatWest is entered on the FSA's Register and its Register number is 121878. The FSA's Register can be accessed at www.fsa.gov.uk/register. NatWest's registered VAT number is GB 243852752.

21 Persons dealing with any member of the RBS Group (including NatWest) outside the United Kingdom are generally not covered by the rules and regulations applicable for the protection of investors in the United Kingdom.

22 NatWest is a member of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme ("FSCS"). The Scheme can pay compensation to customers if a regulated firm is unable to pay claims against it, usually if the firm stops trading or is insolvent. Compensation limits apply depending on the type of claim:

Deposits - maximum £31,700 per person (100% of the first £2,000 and 90% of the next £33,000)
Investments - maximum £48,000 per person (100% of the first £30,000 and 90% of the next £20,000)
Mortgage advice and arranging (for business conducted on or after 31 October 2004) - maximum £48,000 per person (100% of the first £30,000 and 90% of the next £20,000)
Long-term insurance (e.g. pensions and life assurance): unlimited. (100% of the first £2,000 plus 90% of the remainder of the claim)
General Insurance: unlimited. Compulsory insurance (e.g. third party motor): 100% of the claim. Non-compulsory insurance (e.g. home and general): 100% of the first £2,000 plus 90% of the remainder of the claim
General insurance advice and arranging: unlimited (for business conducted on or after 14 January 2005). 100% of the first £2,000 plus 90% of the remainder of the claim

Most retail consumers (this includes private individuals and some small businesses) are covered by the Scheme.

FSCS can be contacted by telephone on 020 7892 7300 or by writing to FSCS, 7th Floor, Lloyds Chambers, 1 Portsoken Street, London, E1 8BN.

23 NatWest subscribes to the Banking Code and Business Banking Code. If you would like a Banking Code or Business Banking Code leaflet ask a member of staff at any branch. Full details of the Code are also available from the British Bankers' Association website.

24 If you are not satisfied with any NatWest product or service we have a complaint handling procedure that you can use to resolve such matters. NatWest is a member of The Financial Ombudsman Service. If you are still not satisfied after following the NatWest procedures, you may be able to ask the Ombudsman to review the complaint. You can find out more about The Financial Ombudsman Service in a leaflet available from any branch or by telephoning the Bank. Alternatively you can write to: Financial Ombudsman Service, South Quay Plaza, 183 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SR or telephone 020 7964 1000.

General Information

Enforceability

25 In the event that any provision of these terms and conditions of use of this website is held unenforceable, it will not affect the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions.

Governing Law

26 The terms and conditions of use of this website are governed by the laws of England and any dispute regarding this website shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

Inter-Bank Agency Agreements

This section contains information for other banks that either have or may wish to consider setting up an Inter Bank Agency Agreement with us.

27 Inter-Bank Agency Agreements are bi-lateral arrangements between banks. They principally provide a service offering of certain branch counter services to another bank's customers by prior arrangement. They facilitate an essential service that enables businesses to access banking facilities where they might otherwise find this difficult - for example due to location or size of their own bank’s branches. The nature and range of the counter services offered is at the discretion of the providing bank. The banks charge each other on a reciprocal basis after the other bank's customer uses the agreed counter service.

The Counter Service transactions that are covered are as follows:

Cash Transactions
Cheques Paid In
Bank Giro Credits
Wages/Salary Cheques cashed
Night Safes
Special Presentations (Cheques)
Returned Cheques Collected

Whilst we wish to be as co-operative as possible when we receive a request from another bank for the provision of these facilities to their customers, there may be situations where we are unable to provide these facilities, even though we may have a branch situated locally (e.g. the anticipated volumes of activity exceed the capacity of the particular branch).

Outline of the process for setting up a new Inter-Bank Agency Agreement (IBAA) (i.e. where no formal arrangement already exists between NatWest and the account-holding bank)

An application to set up a new IBAA must be made by the account-holding bank.
The other bank's customers should approach their own bank/ branch indicating that they wish to use the counter facilities at a specific branch or branches of NatWest.
The account-holding bank should then apply, in writing, to NatWest at UK Corporate Banking, Domestic Banking Services, 4th Floor, Waterhouse Square, 138-142 Holborn, London EC1N 2TH, outlining the requirements of the customer, including the branch(es) concerned and the pattern and volume of activity the customer is likely to transact.
The application usually takes a few weeks to process. The processing time will be reduced if all the requisite documentation and information relating to the customer, is submitted with the application.

Outline of the process to be followed where a formal arrangement already exists between NatWest and the account holding bank

Where a non-NatWest customer wishes to use the counter facilities at a specific branch or branches of NatWest and the account-holding bank already has a formal Agency Agreement with NatWest in place, the account-holding bank should write directly to the NatWest branch(es) concerned, requesting these facilities and outlining the requirements of the customer.

Clearance of funds under an IBAA

For IBAAs, value (via the credit clearing system) will usually be provided to the account-holding bank on working day 3, for both cash and cheques.
Where there is no mechanism in place to confirm whether a cheque has been paid or not, unpaid cheques will normally be in a collecting banker's hands on working day 4. Under an IBAA, when the original credit has been forwarded to another bank, the advice to that bank (the account holding bank) will not be received by them until at least working day 5.
At each step, the process may be shortened if information is provided by telephone.
When NatWest acts as a "collecting banker" for credits paid into accounts with other banks, it does so "with recourse" in the event that the underlying cheques may be returned unpaid.
It is up to the account-holding bank to determine at which stage it will provide "cleared" funds to its customer. If the underlying transaction is cash paid in at the collecting bank, the account-holding bank should normally provide cleared value on working day 3. However, for cheques, although NatWest applies a cleared value on working day 3, it cannot be certain at that time that the cheque will definitely be paid. The earliest occasion on which NatWest would be aware of non-payment will be around 4 working days after deposit, although in some circumstances this period could be longer. For this reason, NatWest recommends the account holding bank to require its customers to wait until at least working day 5, before allowing them to withdraw funds.

NB. Day 1 = The day that a cheque is paid in at branch and processed (assuming that the cheque is not held over to the next working day, which will happen if it's paid in after the 'cut off' time. The cut off time for most NatWest branches is 3:30pm, Monday to Friday, however please note that there can be local variations).

The above information provides terms of use for our general banking products. Customers using Bankline and Electronic Services should refer to the specific terms of use for Bankline and Electronic Services.