Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleCopy linkNationwide Building Society has introduced a new feature enabling customers to block harmful payment references, designed to safeguard abuse survivors. This initiative aims to counter a tactic used by perpetrators who embed abusive messages within payment references to maintain unwanted contact and control. From Thursday, customers will be able to hide these references on incoming transfers directly through the Nationwide app, giving them control over what they see. The charity Surviving Economic Abuse estimates that 4.2 million women across the UK have endured economic abuse from a current or former partner. Nationwide's head of customer vulnerability and the CEO of Surviving Economic Abuse highlighted the importance of this tool in empowering survivors and urged other financial institutions to adopt similar measures. In fullNationwide launches new banking app feature to hide abusive payment referencesMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in