Santander has announced plans to close 95 branches across the UK, putting around 750 jobs at risk as the bank continues to downsize its physical presence in response to changing customer habits.
The latest round of closures will see Santander’s branch network shrink from 444 to 290 full-service branches, alongside five Work Cafés—co-working spaces designed to provide banking services and support for local businesses. The bank will also introduce new counter-free locations and reduced opening hours at selected branches.
Santander says the decision reflects the growing dominance of digital banking, with online transactions surging by 63% since 2019, while in-branch financial transactions have fallen by 61% over the same period.
Despite the move, the bank insists that 93% of the UK population will still be within 10 miles of a Santander branch. Customers affected by closures will have alternative options, including community bankers visiting local venues, high street banking hubs, and in-person services at the Post Office.
A Santander UK spokesperson said: “Our new combination of full-service branches, Work Cafés, counter-free branches, and reduced-hours locations aims to provide the right balance between digital banking and face-to-face support.
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