NatWest has announced it will train 300 staff as it pledges to offer a brand new service to customers and non-customers of the bank. The high street bank, which is one of the largest in the country, recently announced its plans to introduce a new financial education offering designed to “demystify” investing, as part of its free Financial Foundations programme. The workshop will, as suggested, focus on investing and help more people feel confident in getting into it.
It will be available across the UK from May 2026, and it is designed to help people understand the basics of investing so they don’t feel as intimidated by the idea. Investing comes with risk, but it can often bear greater returns than simply storing money in a regular savings account or a Cash ISA. NatWest already offers a variety of workshops focusing on things like budgeting and saving. It has said it aims to support 50,000 people during 2026 with free financial education and guidance, delivered in workplaces, charities and community groups.
300 NatWest colleagues are set to become facilitators to deliver sessions across the UK, joining an existing network of around 400 colleagues who already deliver practical, in-person workshops nationwide.
The news comes after a survey revealed almost 60% of adults would like to participate in some kind of education around investing. Additionally, it found that those aged under 35 were twice as likely to believe that employers have a responsibility for delivering financial education compared to those aged over 35.
Paul Thwaite, CEO of NatWest Group, said: “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. This is a vital part of our economic infrastructure and is often overlooked.”
He added: “Household saving and investment decisions play a critical role in the economy, yet too many people still feel uncertain or excluded from the knowledge and tools required to successfully make those decisions as part of their long-term financial planning.
“Building a stronger culture of financial confidence across the full spectrum, from everyday budgeting and on to saving and investing, starts with education, whether in schools, workplaces or at key life moments. That’s why we’re extending our Financial Foundations programme to allow us to take more of our colleagues’ expertise into the communities we serve, helping more people build financial confidence and resilience.
“Our new investment workshop aims to break down barriers to investing by offering practical guidance, building on the existing programme, which has been running since 2024 and has helped develop confidence in saving and money management for over 31,000 people in the UK in 2025.”
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