Business

Santander to close nearly 100 branches, putting 750 jobs at risk

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.

“Closing a branch is always a very difficult decision, and we carefully consider the impact on customers and employees before making such moves.”

Alongside closures, Santander is investing millions into upgrading its remaining branches, with 99 locations already refurbished in the past two years and another 50 set for improvements in 2025. Upgraded branches will include digital self-service rooms, allowing customers greater privacy and easier access to banking services.

Santander is also enhancing its mobile banking app, chat service, and telephone banking to ensure customers can access services remotely.

The closures come as a fresh blow to in-person banking, with concerns mounting over the accessibility of banking services—particularly for elderly and vulnerable customers.

Santander’s restructuring also puts 750 jobs at risk, with affected employees facing redundancy or potential redeployment within the company.

In response to the shift, Santander has expanded its Work Café concept, offering free co-working spaces with superfast WiFi and event facilities to support local businesses. Two new locations have recently opened, with another set to be announced soon.

List of branch closures and service changes

June Closures

June 14 – Colne
June 16 – Clacton, Croydon, Gateshead Metro, Launceston, Peterhead
June 17 – Arbroath, Kilburn, Louth, Torquay
June 18 – Kidderminster
June 23 – Blackwood, Dungannon, Eltham, Glasgow MX
June 24 – Aberdare, Glasgow LDHQ, Greenford, Magherafelt
June 25 – Brecon
June 30 – Fleet, Musselburgh, Portadown, Swadlincote

July Closures

July 1 – Armagh, Borehamwood, Market Harborough
July 2 – Malvern
July 5 – Blyth, Canvey Island
July 7 – Caernarfon, Camborne, Cumbernauld, Ruislip, Tenterden
July 8 – Didsbury, Herne Bay, St Austell, Tottenham
July 11 – Brixton, Formby, Sidcup
July 14 – Bognor Regis, Holloway, Honiton, Plympton
July 15 – Exmouth, Hackney, Rawtenstall, Seaford
July 16 – Felixstowe
July 21 – Falmouth, Saltcoats
July 22 – Kirkby
July 23 – Crowborough, Shaftesbury, Strabane
July 24 – Colwyn Bay, Hawick
July 28 – New Milton, Pudsey
July 29 – Farnham, Hertford
July 30 – Ross-On-Wye, St Neots
July 31 – Stokesley

August Closures

August 5 – Blyth, Canvey Island, Rustington
August 6 – Downpatrick, Finchley, Whitley Bay
August 11 – Edgware Road
August 12 – Holywell
August 13 – Holywell, Willerby
August 14 – Plympton

Closures with Dates to Be Announced

Wishaw
Bexhill
Billericay
Dover
Droitwich
Dunstable
East Grinstead
Holyhead
Ilkley
Larne
Lytham St Annes
Maldon
Morley
North Walsham
Redcar
Saffron Walden
Turriff
Uckfield
Urmston

Counter-Free Branches (Effective Dates)

June 16 – Abingdon, Accrington, Stirling
June 23 – Eastleigh, Edgware, Neath
June 30 – Bromsgrove, Northwich, Sittingbourne, Streatham
July 7 – Bracknell
July 14 – Hartlepool, Nuneaton
August 4 – Gravesend, Liverpool AR

Reduced Hours Branches (Effective June 30, 2025)

Alton – Tuesday & Thursday 9:30am to 3pm, Saturday 9:30am to 12:30pm
Banbury – Monday, Wednesday & Friday 9:30am to 3pm
Barry – Monday, Wednesday & Friday 9:30am to 3pm
Beeston – Tuesday & Thursday 9:30am to 3pm, Saturday 9:30am to 12:30pm
Bicester – Tuesday & Thursday 9:30am to 3pm, Saturday 9:30am to 12:30pm
Braintree – Tuesday & Thursday 9:30am to 3pm, Saturday 9:30am to 12:30pm
Bury St Edmunds – Monday, Wednesday & Friday 9:30am to 3pm
Caerphilly – Tuesday & Thursday 9:30am to 3pm
Chippenham – Tuesday & Thursday 9:30am to 3pm, Saturday 9:30am to 12:30pm
Cirencester – Tuesday & Thursday 9:30am to 3pm, Saturday 9:30am to 12:30pm
Cricklewood – Monday, Wednesday & Friday 9:30am to 3pm
Durham – Tuesday & Thursday 9:30am to 3pm, Saturday 9:30am to 12:30pm
Ely – Tuesday & Thursday 9:30am to 3pm, Saturday 9:30am to 12:30pm
Grantham – Tuesday & Thursday 9:30am to 3pm, Saturday 9:30am to 12:30pm
Great Yarmouth – Monday, Wednesday & Friday 9:30am to 3pm
Harlesden – Tuesday & Thursday 9:30am to 3pm, Saturday 9:30am to 12:30pm
Hitchin – Monday, Wednesday & Friday 9:30am to 3pm
Irvine – Tuesday & Thursday 9:30am to 3pm, Saturday 9:30am to 12:30pm
Kendal – Monday, Wednesday & Friday 9:30am to 3pm
Kettering – Tuesday & Thursday 9:30am to 3pm, Saturday 9:30am to 12:30pm
Kilmarnock – Monday, Wednesday & Friday 9:30am to 3pm
Lowestoft – Tuesday & Thursday 9:30am to 3pm, Saturday 9:30am to 12:30pm
Newark – Monday, Wednesday & Friday 9:30am to 3pm
Penrith – Tuesday & Thursday 9:30am to 3pm, Saturday 9:30am to 12:30pm
Petersfield – Monday, Wednesday & Friday 9:30am to 3pm

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Santander to close nearly 100 branches, putting 750 jobs at risk