AFTER announcing yesterday that three-month mortgage payment holidays are available to customers with flooded homes, RBS confirmed today the details of the scheme and the full support package available to customers affected by floods.

Customers of NatWest and RBS with flooded homes can access three-month mortgage payment holidays through a dedicated helpline - 0800 408 0840 - and can keep their remaining mortgage payments the same simply by extending their mortgage term by three months.

Further support includes:

  • Customers can approach the banks for emergency help with new overdrafts or limit increases on existing overdrafts or credit cards - subject to credit checks - through NatWest Actionline on 0345 788 8444 or RBS Direct Banking on 0345 724 2424.
  • They can offer an increase on ATM withdrawal limits from £300 to £500.
  • Through NatWest and RBS Home Insurance policies, they can offer customers alternative accommodation should their home become inhabitable - up to £25,000 for standard and £50,000 for elite policyholders - and if customers’ property is damaged, they have a 24-hour emergency helpline: 0845 601 3004. Over the past month, they have supported customers with 62 flood claims and 2,625 storm claims.
  • In the event a customer’s debit card has been lost or destroyed due to flooding, they can access emergency cash either through the mobile banking app or call centres, subject to available funds. Customers will be issued with a code to withdraw cash from one of the ATMs.

NatWest and RBS have been texting customers this morning affected by the floods to make them aware of the helpline for financial assistance.

For businesses, the bank is sending specialist business support teams to affected areas in the coming weeks to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with short-term financial problems as they conduct urgent repair work and deal with loss of trading income.

The moves are in addition to the RBS/NatWest £250 million UK Storm Business Fund announced in January that can provide short-term, interest-free financing to help speed recovery for businesses affected by recent floods and gales. The fund is available to all businesses, not just those that are customers of RBS and NatWest.

RBS chief executive Ross McEwan said: “Thousands of families and businesses will battle short-term financial difficulties as they work to recover from the floods. RBS will stand by our customers and help them in any way we can.

"I hope the steps we are taking will make a meaningful difference to the communities that are working so hard to manage through the floods and then recover from them.”