Large financial institutions rarely overhaul their technology in one dramatic step. Change typically occurs in phases, with systems gradually shifting, consolidating, and improving over time. Nationwide Building Society’s expanded cloud services partnership with AWS fits right into this pattern.
Rather than signaling a new direction, the deal reflects a decision to continue down a path Nationwide has already taken: using cloud infrastructure as the backbone for day-to-day operations, from customer support to internal systems. Reporting from ITPro shows that the UK mutual lender plans to put more of its workloads on AWS, building on several years of early cloud adoption.
For an organization serving more than 17 million members, the stakes are practical. Systems must deal with surges in demand, support staff working across branches and call centers and adapt to changing customer expectations. Cloud infrastructure offers a way to manage this complexity without relying on fixed on-premises systems that can be slow to update.
From AWS cloud infrastructure to everyday services
Nationwide already runs key services on AWS, including Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service for application management and Amazon Connect for its contact center platform. ITPro announced that the expanded agreement will see more systems consolidated on AWS, simplifying the way the technology is deployed and maintained.
The contact center is a good example of how the use of the cloud has moved beyond the back-office infrastructure. Amazon Connect supports Nationwide’s Call Checker service, which helps customers confirm they are speaking with a legitimate Nationwide employee. According to ITProimpersonation fraud accounted for about 17 percent of reported cases in 2024 and 2025, making tools that support real-time verification more relevant to day-to-day operations.
Running these services in the cloud allows Nationwide to adjust capacity as needed. Call volumes can increase rapidly during busy periods, and cloud systems make it easy to scale without the need to build permanent infrastructure that can sit idle at other times.
A shift in how the cloud is judged
The expanded partnership signals a broader shift in how Nationwide views cloud technology. Cost savings are still important, but they are no longer the primary measure of success. The focus is now on reliability, speed and how well systems support employees and customers.
In the comments posted FinextraNationwide Group chief operating officer Suresh Viswanathan described the cloud as a tool to drive better results, not just a technical upgrade.
“As we continue our digital transformation, we need cloud technology to support our ambitions to deliver better customer experiences while keeping safety and security at the forefront,” said Viswanathan. “With AWS, we can better support our colleagues on the front lines to help them improve the member experience and deliver better outcomes for more than 17 million customers.”
This arrangement reflects a wider trend across financial services. Cloud adoption is increasingly tied to quality of service and operational performance, rather than a one-off migration project.
Balancing AWS cloud services with control and risk
For banks and building societies, any deeper use of cloud technology raises questions about control, resilience and compliance. Systems must remain available, data must be protected, and regulators need reassurance that risks are being managed.
Finextra also reported comments from Alison Kay, vice president and managing director of AWS UK & Ireland, who linked the partnership to these concerns.
She said the deal will help Nationwide “accelerate innovation, increase operational resilience and deliver the digital experiences their members expect – all while maintaining the security and compliance standards that are paramount in financial services.
For Nationwide, this balance is critical. An organization cannot afford disruption as it modernises. Cloud systems must support existing services while allowing incremental changes, rather than forcing sudden shifts that could impact customers or employees.
Skills are as important as systems
Technology is only part of the picture. Finextra said the expanded deal includes AWS cloud services and AI training for Nationwide employees, covering general cloud knowledge as well as AWS-specific tools.
This focus on skills highlights a common problem in enterprise cloud programs. Moving systems to the cloud is changing the way teams work, resolve incidents and deliver new features. Without the right skills, organizations may struggle to effectively use the platforms they adopt.
By investing in training alongside infrastructure, Nationwide is signaling that the cloud is becoming part of its long-term operating model, not just an external service managed by suppliers.
A familiar pattern across financial services
The nationwide approach mirrors what is happening in much of the financial sector. Many institutions have already completed initial cloud migrations and are now focusing on consolidation, optimization and operational utilization.
Ace IT Pro In a broader coverage of the sector, cloud platforms are increasingly being used to run contact centers, support fraud detection and handle internal workflows that were once tied to on-premises systems. The emphasis is shifting from “moving to the cloud” to “running the business in the cloud”.
This change is driven by customer expectations, competitive pressure and the need for systems that can adapt quickly without sacrificing stability.
Incremental change, not a finish line
Nationwide did not provide a detailed list of new services tied directly to the expanded AWS deal. Instead, the focus seems to be on building a more flexible base that supports continuous improvement.
For corporate readers, the story is less about the partnership itself and more about what it represents. Cloud adoption, especially in regulated industries, is becoming quieter and more practical. Success is measured by fewer disruptions, faster updates, and systems that work reliably at scale.
Nationwide’s next steps are likely to be gradual rather than dramatic. But taken together, these moves show how cloud platforms are becoming embedded in the day-to-day operations of large organizations—not as a destination, but as an infrastructure that underpins how work gets done.
(Photo: Clay Banks)
See also: A closer look at the Bank of England’s expanding cloud project
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