Sainsbury's Bank customers will be locked out of its credit card app from next month. The high street lender flogged its banking services, including credit cards, loans, and savings, to NatWest last year, leaving 1.8 million people in limbo.

Fresh details have emerged that the Sainsbury's Bank credit card app will stop working at 5pm on October 3, with credit card accounts being shifted over to NatWest between October 3 and 6. Sainsbury's Bank has written to affected customers about these changes.

A Sainsbury's Bank spokesperson reportedly said: "There are no immediate changes and nothing customers need to do right now. We will continue to keep them informed throughout the transfer process.", reports the Manchester Evening News.

Back in January last year, Sainsbury's Bank announced plans to shut down its banking arm to focus on its retail operations. NatWest swooped in to buy the bank in June 2024.

This takeover will see NatWest inherit £1.4 billion of unsecured personal loans, £1.1 billion of credit card balances, and approximately £2.6 billion of customer deposits.

Earlier this year, according to the Mirror, Sainsbury's Bank also revealed it would stop taking applications for new savings accounts from both fresh and existing customers. In a statement on its website, the bank said: "Thank you for your interest but we are no longer accepting savings applications from new or existing customers. Any savings applications made prior to March 13, 2025 will continue to be processed and completed accordingly."

Sainsbury's Bank had previously provided travel money services but flogged its travel money operation to Fexco Group in July 2025. The NatWest deal left the pet insurance division untouched.

Simon Roberts, Sainbury's chief executive, said last year: "NatWest's values and customer focus are a close fit with ours and as one of the UK's leading banks, NatWest's scale and financial services expertise will ensure our existing financial services customers continue to be well looked after.

"There will be no immediate change for our bank customers as a result of this announcement... We will focus all our time and resources going forward on growing our core retail business, delivering great quality and value, week in week out."

Paul Thwaite, NatWest Group chief executive, said last year: "We look forward to welcoming new customers to NatWest Group, where they will benefit from our expertise and award-winning digital banking offering. This Transaction is a great opportunity to accelerate the growth of our Retail banking business at attractive returns, in line with our strategic priorities.

"As well as a complementary customer base, the Transaction is expected to add scale to our credit card and unsecured personal lending business within existing risk appetite. NatWest Group has a strong track record of successful integration, and we are focused on ensuring a smooth transition for customers."

Major banking app to close app next month as customers given urgent warning - Daily Star