Santander to shut 44 bank branches with 291 jobs at risk

Santander is to shut 44 of its bank branches in a move putting 291 jobs at risk.

The Spain-based banking giant said the closures are part of an overhaul of its network linked to a shift from customers towards its digital services.

It said 96% of all transactions are now being completed in digital channels after a rapid increase in online banking customers.

It comes less than a year after the business announced the closure of 95 branches in March, in a round of cuts which hit 750 workers.

Last July, UK boss Mike Regnier said around 2,000 roles had been cut over the previous year through a continued overhaul at the lender, but indicated there “might well be” more job cuts on the way.

Santander said closing branches will be replaced with “community bankers”, who will operate from Santander Local stores or banking hubs to keep a presence in local communities.

The high street lender said the latest cuts will leave it with 244 full branches.

It will also operate 19 counter-free branches, 36 reduced-hour branches, six work cafes and 111 Santander Locals.

Santander stressed it is continuing to invest tens of millions of pounds into its branches, refurbishing more than 220 sites over the past six years.

It added that more than 30 branches are also set for refurbishments over the coming year.

A spokeswoman for Santander said: “In response to a continuing and sizeable shift towards customers using digital banking, we are making changes to our branches to better support our customers.

“We will continue to invest in both our branch network – comprising of full-service branches, counter-free branches, reduced-hour branches, Santander Locals, and our increasingly popular work cafes – as well as our digital banking services, so we can be there to support our customers however they choose to bank with us.”

The closures also come as Santander moves closer to completing its takeover of UK banking rival TSB for £2.65 billion.

The deal with TSB, which will bring more branches into the business, is expected to complete later this quarter.