Swindon-based building society Nationwide has signed an exclusive five-year partnership deal with RSA Insurance to underwrite all of its home insurance products.
Under the agreement, which takes effect from spring 2017, RSA will replace Direct Line Group.
RSA said the deal would cement its position as the market leader in home insurance and specifically in partnering with members of building society, banking and retail sectors. 
Nationwide executive director for group retail, Chris Rhodes, said: “The RSA Group has over 305 years’ experience and we are delighted to announce them as Nationwide’s new home insurance partner. RSA is a natural fit for the society due to its strong reputation for service and appeal to customers.
“We are confident that this partnership will allow us to grow in the home insurance arena, by offering our members a flexible, competitive product, underpinned by the great service they expect from Nationwide.”
Nationwide, the UK’s second-largest mortgage and savings provider, employs around 17,000 people – 7,000 of them at its flagship Swindon HQ.
Last month it reported a 26.8% increase in half-year pre-tax profits to £801m as the strong housing market pushed up its mortgage lending to record levels.
RSA – formerly known as Royal and Sun Alliance – is one of the world’s leading multinational quoted insurance groups. Focusing on general insurance, it has around 18,500 employees and, in 2014, its net written premiums were £7.5bn.
Pictured, from left: Graham Beale, CEO Nationwide Building Society, and Steve Lewis, CEO RSA
