Santander is preparing to shut 13 branches across the United Kingdom at the end of this month, dealing another blow to high street banking.
Approximately 291 jobs are at risk as a result of the bank's restructuring plans, which were announced earlier this year.
The closures, scheduled for 28 and 29 April, form part of a larger programme that will see 58 Santander locations close their doors throughout 2026.
Once the closures are complete, Santander will operate 305 branches nationwide, a significant reduction in its physical presence as the shift towards digital banking accelerates.
The bank has pointed to a dramatic transformation in customer behaviour to justify the cuts, revealing that 96 per cent of its customers now conduct their banking transactions through digital channels.
A Santander UK spokesperson 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."
The lender has pledged that affected communities will not lose access to in-person services entirely, with closing branches set to be replaced by Community Bankers operating from either Santander Locals or Banking Hubs to maintain face-to-face support.
Santander has announced its intention to end its popular account switch offer for new customers | GETTY Santander's approach stands in stark contrast to rival Barclays, which has reversed course on branch closures following years of cuts.
Barclays closed 800 branches between 2018 and recently, but has now halted the programme entirely and pledged to expand its high street presence.
Chief executive Vim Maru explained the change in strategy, telling The Times he doesn't want customers to get "stuck in some chatbot".
Barclays has pledged to expand its high street presence
| GETTYThe divergent approaches highlight the ongoing debate within the banking sector about how best to serve customers, as thousands of high street branches have disappeared over the past decade, leaving some towns without any in-person banking facilities.
Full list of 13 Santander branches closing in April 2026
- Bango, Country Down - April 29, 2026
- Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland - April 28, 2026
- Bridgwater, Somerset - April 29, 2026
- Boston, Lincolnshire - April 28, 2026
- Evesham, Worchestershire - April 28, 2026
- Kirkintilloch, Lanarkshire - April 29, 2026
- Melton Mowbray, Liecestershire - April 29, 2026
- Mold, Clwyd - April 28, 2026
- Newbury, Berkshire - April 29, 2026
- Ramsgate, Kent - April 28, 2028
- Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire - April 29, 2026
- Tonbridge, Kent - April 29, 2026
- Woking, Surrey - April 28, 2026
Total number of bank branches and building societies in the UK since 1986, based on Office for National Statistics (ONS) and British Banking Association (BBA) figures | HOUSE OF COMMONS LIBRARY The bank has indicated that further reductions to its network are anticipated, with closures expected to continue through 2027 as Santander reshapes its operations around digital services and alternative face-to-face options.
Over the past decade, thousands of high street branches have been shut by major UK banks, leaving some towns without any in-person banking services.