Who are NatWest?
NatWest is the main high street bank of NatWest Group, which also owns Royal Bank of Scotland and, in Northern Ireland, Ulster Bank. Its standard arranged overdraft is 39.49% EAR variable (representative, checked October 2026).
Can I claim against NatWest?
You could, if any of these sound familiar:
- 01In your overdraft most of every month
- 02Wages in, straight back into the red
- 03Your limit went up while you were maxed out
- 04Charges kept coming, and nobody got in touch
Limit increases count too. Each one was a lending decision, so each can be looked at.
What you could get back
Average overdraft claim£2,0231
Overdraft interestRefunded
Fees and chargesRefunded
Interest on your refundAdded
Missed payment markersRemoved
Refunds usually run from when the bank should have stepped in. If you’re still overdrawn, a refund may reduce what you owe rather than being paid in cash.
Ombudsman decisions about NatWest
Published Financial Ombudsman decisions show how complaints like these are judged. Where a complaint is upheld, it is often only from a certain date or for certain lending. Every complaint is decided on its own facts, so these are examples, not a guide to what you’ll get.
- Upheld
By November 2019 the bank ought to have realised that continued overdraft use was not in the customer’s interests.
Read decision DRN-4115823 - Upheld
The bank should not have raised the limit above £2,500 in July 2018 (it reached £4,500 by September 2018). It was told to refund interest and charges on balances above £2,500 from July 2018.
Read decision DRN-5574900 - Partly upheld
The bank should not have raised one overdraft in April 2022, and should have stepped in on another by December 2022.
Read decision DRN-5274025
NatWest overdraft questions
Can I claim if I’m still overdrawn?
Yes. If the complaint is upheld, the refund may reduce your balance rather than being paid to you in cash.
Will my overdraft be taken away?
It can be. If a complaint is upheld, the bank may reduce or remove the overdraft and agree an affordable way to repay what’s left.
How long does NatWest have to reply?
Eight weeks. If NatWest hasn’t sent a final response by then, or you’re unhappy with it, the complaint can go to the Financial Ombudsman, normally within six months of the final response.
How far back can I claim?
Usually six years from the lending, or three years from when you realised you had cause to complain, whichever is later. Where an account is still running, the ombudsman has sometimes looked back further.
Complain to NatWest yourself
You don’t need a claims company. You can complain to NatWest directly using its complaints page. If you’re unhappy with the answer, or it hasn’t replied within eight weeks, you can take it to the Financial Ombudsman. Both are free.