Nationwide Financial declares quarterly dividend

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 6, 2008

Investor Contact:
Mark Barnett
(614) 249-8437

Media Contact:
Erica Lewis
(614) 249-0184

Columbus, OH — The board of directors of Nationwide Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE:NFS), a leading provider of retirement and long-term savings insurance products, today declared a regular quarterly dividend of 29 cents ($0.29) per share on the issued and outstanding common shares of the company.

The dividend is payable on October 13, 2008, to shareholders of record at the close of business on October 1, 2008.

About Nationwide Financial^®

Nationwide Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE: NFS), a publicly traded company based in Columbus, Ohio, provides a variety of financial services that help consumers invest1 and protect their long-term assets, and offers retirement plans and services through both public- and private-sector employers.

It’s part of the Nationwide group of companies, which offers diversified insurance and financial services. The group is led by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, which is ranked No. 108 on the Fortune 500 based on 2007 revenue.2 To obtain investor materials, including the Company's 2007 Annual Report to Shareholders, 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly statistical supplements and other corporate announcements, please visit the investor relations section of the company's Web site at www.nationwide.com.

^{1-Nationwide Investment Services Corporation, member FINRA. In MI only: Nationwide Investment Svcs. Corporation. Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and Affiliated Companies, Home Office: Columbus, OH 43215-2220
2-Fortune Magazine, April 2008}

^{Nationwide, Nationwide Financial, the Nationwide Framemark and On Your Side are federally registered service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.}