NatWest follows Santander with hikes of up to 0.35%

The rate rises just keep piling up as NatWest confirms another increase to their rates of up to 0.35%. Lenders are changing rates almost daily and not in a good way for borrowers, who now either have to act fast to secure a rate or sit tight, be patient and hope rates come down again in the coming months. Unfortunately, many borrowers do not have the flexibility to wait.

What stands out to me is not just the size of the increase, but the speed at which lenders are moving together. NatWest following Santander with hikes of up to 0.35% shows this is not an isolated repricing, it is the market reacting quickly to renewed pressure and trying to protect margins before conditions move again. For borrowers, that is the worrying part. It creates uncertainty, it creates panic, and it reminds people how fast a rate that looked acceptable a few days ago can suddenly disappear. I do not think this is a full mini-Budget moment, but it absolutely brings back memories of how quickly confidence can turn in the mortgage market when swap rates move against lenders. The message for borrowers is simple: do not drift, do not assume rates will improve next week, and do not underestimate how reactive lenders can become when volatility returns. This is exactly why timing and decisive advice matter so much in this market.

NatWest pushing rates up by as much as 0.35%, following Santander on Friday, suggests lenders are becoming a little more cautious as swap rates wobble. It’s not a sign the mortgage market is turning on its head, but it is a reminder that lenders can reprice quickly when funding costs shift. For borrowers, it’s a gentle nudge not to hang around waiting for the “perfect” rate, in this market, as hesitation can sometimes cost more than action. The good news is competition is still fierce, so while some lenders move north, others will inevitably try to steal the spotlight with sharper deals.

NatWest hiking rates by up to 0.35% on the heels of Santander is becoming a pattern nobody wanted to see this spring. When lenders reprice almost daily, borrowers are left chasing a moving target. If you are buying, remortgaging or looking at UK property investment, your window to lock in a rate is shrinking by the hour. The uncomfortable truth is that rising swap rates and global uncertainty are feeding straight into pricing. Sitting tight and hoping for a dip is a luxury many simply cannot afford. If your deal is expiring soon, get proper advice now; waiting another week could cost you thousands over the term.

Starting the week with yet another rate increase from one of the biggest lenders in the country isn't quite what we had hoped for. NatWest's ratcheting of rates signals further gloom to come on this week's horizon. Borrowers are unable to keep up with the rapid succession of rapidly increasing interest rates and NatWest has just poured some cold water over some borrowers' best laid plans. Things are moving so fast at the moment you can't really set your sights on a rate, until you get an application fully submitted.