LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM -- (Marketwire) -- 03/07/13 -- A new code of conduct designed to encourage people to shop around for their annuities is being welcomed by Nationwide Building Society, a year on from the launch of its own annuity service.

The new Association of British Insurers (ABI) code, fully supported by Nationwide, comes into effect on March 1st 2013. It is designed to highlight the ways in which customers can ensure the best possible retirement, offering a choice of annuity providers through the open market option (OMO) and enhanced annuity options.

Since launching its annuity service, Nationwide annuity customers are on average 17% better off as a result of shopping around, representing a monetary value of an average extra annual income of GBP 338.87. This equates to GBP 6,438.53 over 19 years, the average life expectancy after the age of 65(2). The greatest uplift achieved for an individual customer of Nationwide's Annuity Service was 103%.

Nationwide has also secured 51% of all annuities on an enhanced rather than conventional basis(3). The industry average indicates that approximately 25% of annuities are currently secured at an enhanced rate when customers shop around on the open market. Only 1%-5% of sales are enhanced where customers remain with their existing, or ceding, pensions provider.

Nationwide's Annuity Service is available to all customers approaching retirement with a total pension pot from GBP 18,000. It offers access to a panel of leading providers, encourages customers to shop around for the best annuity option available and, where certain health conditions permit, directs customers towards potentially enhanced annuities for a higher monthly income.

In order to make sure customers can make the most appropriate retirement income choices, the ABI code requires that key changes to the way those options are offered must be implemented by pensions providers.

These include:

- The information provided should encourage shopping around for the best retirement options

- Communications by providers must be clear and consistent, to enable customers to make informed choices about annuities

- The information must guide and support customers to maximise their retirement income, providing details about wider market options, including enhanced annuities

- Customers should be signposted to advice and support from both regulated advisers and government backed advice services

- Providers will no longer be allowed to include an annuity application form within their information packs, promoting active choices for the best retirement options

John Wilkinson, Nationwide's head of protection and investments, said: "Nationwide launched its annuity service a year ago to plug a gap for customers wanting to access trusted advice on the high street so that they can maximise their retirement incomes. Since then, it has become abundantly clear how important is it not to take the first option offered but to shop around and what a huge improvement can be made to people's retirement income as a result.

"It is absolutely vital that customers making such a key financial decision, which will determine their level of income in retirement and cannot be reversed, have all the information and help they need to reach the right decision for them. By shopping around, getting advice and making sure they disclose any medical conditions, they can not only secure the highest rates but also shape their own annuity to include spouse benefits or guarantees, making the most of their pension pots in retirement.

"We have wholeheartedly embraced the principles of the ABI code of conduct and the efforts to enhance transparency, increase customer choice and ensure that those retiring can maximise their income."

Nationwide's annuity service is available on an advised or non-advised basis and outlines customers' financial options in retirement and supports them throughout the application process.

It provides access through The Open Market Annuity Service to a panel of leading annuity providers, carefully chosen and regularly reviewed by Nationwide on the basis of their financial strength, customer service and competitive rates. There are currently six on the panel: Aviva, Canada Life, Just Retirement, Legal & General, LV=, and Partnership.

Notes to Editors:

(1)   The average uplift figure of 17% is based on information regarding    
      customers who have purchased an annuity through the Nationwide Annuity
      Service between March 5th 2012 and the end of January 22nd 2013. A    
      16.87% average increase in the annuity offered was achieved compared  
      with the customer's own pension company annuity offer. Source: The    
      Open Market Annuity Service Feb 2013.                                 
                                                                            
(2)   Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS) 2011. The average length 
      of time a person aged 65 is expected to live is 19 years, 18 years for
      a man and 20 years for a woman.                                       
                                                                            
(3)   Figures from Nationwide's Open Market Annuity Service show that from  
      launch to January 2013, 51.3% of annuities have been offered on an    
      enhanced basis, while 48.7% were offered on a conventional basis.     
                                                                            
(4)   Figures from National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) report      
      February 2012, which states the number of people who are thought to   
      qualify for an enhanced rate should be in the order of 40-60%. Whilst 
      the market appears to be rapidly growing, at present approximate 25%  
      of OMO sales are actually secured at an enhanced rate. Only 1%-5% of  
      sales made by the ceding pension scheme providers to their existing   
      customers who do not opt to shop around are offered on an enhanced    
      basis.                                                                

About Nationwide Building Society

Nationwide is the world's largest building society as well as the second largest savings provider and a top-three provider of mortgages in the UK. It is also a major provider of current accounts, credit cards, ISAs and personal loans. Nationwide has around 15 million members.

Customers can manage their finances in branch, on the telephone, internet and post. The Society has around 15,000 employees. Nationwide's head office is in Swindon with administration centres based in Northampton, Bournemouth and Dunfermline. The Society also has a number of call centres across the UK.