NatWest Group is expanding the scope of its free Financial Foundations education programme to help demystify investing for the UK public.
The banking group has announced plans to extend the initiative to reach 50,000 individuals across workplaces, charities, and community groups throughout 2026. To support this ambitious scale-up, NatWest Group is training an additional 300 colleagues to become facilitators, bolstering an existing nationwide network of around 400 staff members who currently deliver the practical, in-person workshops.
Demystifying investments in the workplace
A brand-new investment-focused workshop will be available nationwide starting in May 2026. This new module has been specifically designed to help more people understand the basics of investing and build their financial confidence.
The launch builds upon the bank’s existing programme, which already covers essential financial skills:
The expansion aligns with a growing appetite for employer-supported financial literacy. According to a March 2026 survey of 5,000 UK adults commissioned by NatWest Group:
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Almost six in ten (58 per cent) of respondents would be likely to take part in a financial education session on investing if their employer offered it.
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Younger adults under 35 are twice as likely to believe that employers bear a responsibility for delivering financial education compared to those aged 35 and over (9 per cent versus 4 per cent).
Industry and government support
To mark the launch, NatWest Group CEO Paul Thwaite attended the inaugural Financial Foundations investment workshop at digital transformation specialists Barcode Warehouse in Newark, Nottinghamshire.
“A strong economy needs financial confidence and capability – the knowledge and skills that help people and families budget, save, invest and plan for the future,” Thwaite said. “This is a vital part of our economic infrastructure and is often overlooked.”
Thwaite added that while household saving and investment decisions play a critical role in the broader economy, too many people feel uncertain or entirely excluded from the tools required for long-term financial planning.
The launch coincides with a growing national focus on financial literacy, complementing new FCA reforms that aim to make investment guidance more accessible and bridge the UK’s long‑standing advice gap.
Lucy Rigby KC MP, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, welcomed the initiative: “Financial literacy matters to the health of people’s finances, and to the health of our economy. I’m delighted to see NatWest Group committing to extend their financial education and literacy programme to give people access to new and improved financial skills.”
Building on a strong foundation
The Financial Foundations programme has already demonstrated significant traction. In 2025, the bank delivered 1,500 workshops to more than 31,000 participants. Feedback from the programme indicates that:
This latest expansion is a core component of NatWest Group’s five-point ‘Growing Together’ plan, which aims to help build the conditions for UK-wide growth by boosting financial confidence among families and young people.
In addition to group workshops, NatWest Group also offers free, confidential one-to-one Worksite Financial Health Checks (FHCs). Delivered by trained senior personal bankers, these sessions are available to employees of business customers—regardless of who they bank with—to provide personalised support and help individuals confidently work toward their financial goals.
