The high street bank is installing defibrillators and bleed control kits at all 605 of its branches as part of what is thought to be the UK’s largest-ever combined rollout of lifesaving measures.
It is also launching community first aid training sessions through a partnership with St John Ambulance, aiming to make every branch a potential point of emergency intervention.
Amanda Beech, director of retail services at Nationwide, said: “Nationwide’s unique reach as the UK’s largest branch network gives us the ability to put life-saving equipment where it matters most – in places people already know and trust in their communities.
“By transforming our branches into visible, emergency hubs, we’re making it easier to access help when every second counts.
Are those new bank details genuine? It’s nearly tax year-end and criminals might use this to rush you into paying a fake invoice.
They might send you genuine looking invoice but change bank account details.#TakeFive to speak to the supplier directly before you pay. pic.twitter.com/vhj4YMp0Q4
— Take Five (@TakeFive) March 12, 2026
“Crucially, we’re also offering training to all our branch colleagues, before extending that training into the communities we serve.
“We want more people to feel prepared, confident and ready to act when it matters most.”
The rollout, which will see the kits installed from now until the end of the year, is being done in partnership with Visa.
Research commissioned by Nationwide highlights gaps in emergency preparedness across the UK.
A national poll of 2,000 people showed that 87% would feel safer with lifesaving equipment nearby.
Additionally, 88% believe such equipment should be as common as fire extinguishers in public places, but only 27% know where their nearest defibrillator is, and just 9% know the location of the nearest bleed kit.
More than a quarter (27%) said they would not feel confident stopping a severe bleed.
Nearly a third (31%) would not feel confident using a defibrillator.
Almost half (42%) said they might hesitate to intervene for fear of making the situation worse.
A majority (51%) do not believe a stranger would assist them in a health emergency.
This lack of confidence is most pronounced among younger adults, with 18 to 24-year-olds more than twice as likely as over-55s (10% versus 4%) to panic in a life-threatening situation.
To bridge this confidence gap, Nationwide and St John Ambulance are delivering volunteer-led training to help the public respond effectively in medical emergencies.
The training will initially reach 4,000 Nationwide branch colleagues before expanding into community sessions through the “Heart of Community” programme.
These sessions will cover CPR, defibrillator use, and the treatment of severe bleeding.
Professor Andrew Hartle, chief medical officer at St John Ambulance, said: “We’re so pleased to work with Nationwide and Visa on this project, which so perfectly meets St John Ambulance’s mission to put the power of first aid into everyone’s hands.
“With hundreds more public access defibrillators and bleed control kits across the UK, and thousands more people confident to use them, I am confident many more lives will be saved in our communities.”
Recommended reading:
Around 40,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the UK each year, with survival rates below 10%.
Severe bleeding also remains a leading cause of death after traumatic injuries.
In total, 97% of those surveyed said it was important to have free first aid training available locally, and 77% said they would attend nearby free sessions.
Nationwide has pledged to keep all of its branches open until at least 2030, emphasising its long-term commitment to serving local communities.
Would you feel safe using a defibrillator? Let us know in the comments.
