Santander is preparing to shut 40 branches across the United Kingdom by the close of May 2026 as the banking group continues its transition towards digital services.
The closures will begin in late April, with 13 locations set to close on April 28 and April 29, followed by a further 27 branches throughout May.
The bank revealed its plans in January when it announced a total reduction of 44 sites nationally, with four of those branches having already ceased operations earlier this year.
Locations affected in the April wave include Woking, Ramsgate, Tonbridge, Newbury and Berwick-upon-Tweed.
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The May closures span England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, with branches in Golders Green, Stratford-upon-Avon and Merthyr Tydfil among those set to shut.
Santander attributed the branch reductions to changing customer behaviour, stating that 96 per cent of all transactions are now completed through digital channels.
The closures place 291 positions at risk across the affected sites.
This latest round of cuts follows a similar announcement in March 2025 when the lender confirmed it would close 95 branches, a decision that affected 750 employees.
Santander to shut 40 branches by May 2026 as digital shift accelerates
| PAThe bank’s restructuring programme has resulted in significant workforce reductions in recent years.
In July 2025, Mike Regnier, who was then serving as Santander’s UK chief executive, said approximately 2,000 roles had been eliminated during the preceding 12 months.
At the time, he indicated that additional job losses were likely, stating that further redundancies "might well be" on the horizon.
Mr Regnier made the comments as part of a broader restructuring effort that had already reduced the bank’s workforce.
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Mr Regnier warned that the cost-cutting measures were not complete
| GETTYHe warned that the cost-cutting measures were not complete, signalling that staff should prepare for ongoing changes to the organisation’s structure.
The latest closures represent a continuation of Santander’s strategy to reduce its physical presence on British high streets as customers increasingly favour mobile and online banking.
The bank has faced pressure to streamline operations in response to shifting consumer habits and the rising costs associated with maintaining physical locations.
These cuts form part of a wider trend across the UK banking sector, with major lenders scaling back branch networks as digital usage increases.
Santander said it would replace the closing branches with "community bankers" operating through Santander Local stores or shared banking hubs.
The bank stated this approach would ensure customers in affected areas retain access to essential banking services.
The shared banking hub model allows multiple lenders to provide services from a single location, offering an alternative for customers who prefer face-to-face interaction.
Santander Local stores provide a smaller-scale presence compared with traditional branches, with staff available to assist with everyday banking needs.
The first closures are scheduled for April 28, when six branches including Boston, Evesham and Mold will shut.
A further seven branches will close on April 29, including sites in Bangor, Bridgwater and Scunthorpe.
The news will cause those who struggle with internet banking cause for concern
|GETTY
Full list of closures in April
- Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland – April 28
- Boston, Lincolnshire – April 28
- Evesham, Worcestershire – April 28
- Mold, Clwyd – April 28
- Ramsgate, Kent – April 28
- Woking, Surrey – April 28
- Bangor, County Down – April 29
- Bridgwater, Somerset – April 29
- Kirkintilloch, Lanarkshire – April 29
- Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire – April 29
- Newbury, Berkshire – April 29
- Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire – April 29
- Tonbridge, Kent – April 29
Full list of closures in May
- Bishop Auckland, County Durham – May 5
- Gosport, Hampshire – May 5
- Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire – May 5
- Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire – May 5
- Pontefract, West Yorkshire – May 5
- Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire – May 5
- Glengormley, County Antrim – May 6
- Leyland, Lancashire – May 6
- Mansfield, Nottinghamshire – May 6
- Merthyr Tydfil, Mid Glamorgan – May 6
- Northallerton, North Yorkshire – May 6
- Ringwood, Hampshire – May 6
- Andover, Hampshire – May 12
- Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan – May 12
- Enniskillen, County Fermanagh – May 12
- Macclesfield, Cheshire – May 12
- Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire – May 12
- Cwmbran, Gwent – May 13
- Golders Green, London – May 13
- Heswall, Merseyside – May 13
- Redditch, Worcestershire – May 13
- Stranraer, Wigtownshire – May 13
- Newton Abbot, Devon – May 19
- Stafford, Staffordshire – May 19
- Banbridge, County Down – May 19
- Liskeard, Cornwall – May 20
- Shirley, West Midlands – May 20