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"The implacable march of technology continues" as Santander closes 95 branches

ended 19. March 2025

Santander has today announced plans to update its branch network from June 2025 to better serve the changing needs of its customers. The bank will be changing the format of a number of branches to include 18 counter-free and 36 reduced hours branches, alongside its 290 full-service branches and five Work Cafés. As part of the changes, 95 of the bank’s existing 444 branches will be closed. These locations will be covered by new Santander Community Bankers providing face-to-face money management and general support for customers, visiting local communities weekly, as well as attending local Banking Hubs. The bank is also investing in more Work Cafés, with two new Work Cafés recently opened, and an additional site to be announced shortly.  The Work Café concept, which Santander is rolling out globally, provides a hub for local communities and businesses, including co-working space, superfast WiFi and dedicated event space - which can be accessed for free by customers and non-customers alike. 

The bank says it has seen a rapid movement of customers choosing to do their banking digitally, with a 63% increase in digital transactions since 2019, while financial transactions completed in branches reduced by 61% in the same period. Newspage asked financial services experts for their views, below.

7 responses from the Newspage community

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Sean Horton
Managing Director at Respect Mortgages
Santander's branch closures are simply the latest in banking's digital push. Yet for many customers, especially the elderly and those in rural areas, this isn't a choice but a forced migration. The bank can dress it up with fancy Work Cafés and Community Bankers, but let's be honest - they're cutting costs. Banks claim customers prefer digital, but that's partly because physical options keep disappearing. Local shopkeepers needing to deposit cash takings are again left in the lurch, while many individuals, including the elderly, prefer to discuss their finances with a real person.
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Emma Jones
Managing Director at Whenthebanksaysno.co.uk
The implacable march of technology continues, but for many consumers, especially older ones, it comes at a cost. Many prefer face-to-face banking and this is slowly disappearing from the high street. This latest retreat is another blow to the shops and businesses that line the UK's high streets as it will potentially result in less footfall at a time when many need it most.
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Riz Malik
Independent Financial Adviser at R3 Wealth
Branch networks are costly and likely to become obsolete in the coming years. However, the demand for in-person financial advice remains strong, potentially driving more people to seek local independent financial advice and offering customers a wider range of options.
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Rohit Kohli
Director at The Mortgage Stop
Santander’s latest closures raise a familiar question: Are there any left to close? While digital banking grows, many—especially vulnerable customers—still rely on in-person services. We recently helped clients who needed branch support, only to face a two-hour round trip. Santander’s contact centre simply directed them to the nearest branch—hardly a real solution. Investment in digital banking is positive, but accessibility must not be sacrificed. Community Bankers and Banking Hubs sound promising, but will they match branch support? For many, banking access isn’t convenience—it’s a necessity.
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Tony Redondo
Founder at Cosmos Currency Exchange
The stats scream it. More and more customers are voting with their thumbs. 82% of current accounts opened digitally, mobile logins up 73% to 1.9 billion make Santander’s move to slash 95 branches while pivoting to 18 counter-free, 36 reduced-hours, and 290 full-service branches plus five Work Cafés a bold nod to the digital tide. The downsides. 750 jobs at risk stings and non-tech savvy clients lose another bank service option. Santander will argue that Community Bankers and Banking Hubs might soften the blow for the cash-clinging crowd, but rural areas could still feel stranded. The stats show that 93% of the UK is within 10 miles of a branch but mileage matters less than access. The test will be for Santander to balance tech zeal with the human touch. Time will tell.
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Pete Mugleston
Mortgage Advisor & Managing Director at onlinemortgageadvisor.co.uk
Santander’s branch overhaul reflects the ongoing shift toward digital banking, but closing 95 branches will undoubtedly impact many customers who still rely on in-person services. While the introduction of Community Bankers and Banking Hubs is a step in the right direction, it remains to be seen whether this level of support will truly replace full-service branches, especially for older and less tech-savvy customers. The expansion of Work Cafés is an interesting concept, but prioritising co-working spaces over banking services may not be what all customers need. This move makes sense commercially, but customer accessibility must remain a priority.
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Colin Low
Managing Director at Kingsfleet
There must be ample evidence that the footfall in Santander branches has reduced. Certainly the days of cashing cheques, using passbooks and paying in cash seem like a distant dream. However, there is a very real problem with bank branch closures. At the point of a significant life event or the need to seek help or advice, being unable to meet someone face to face is a very real problem. When someone loses a loved one, goes through a relationship breakdown or is the victim of a scam, they need to meet with someone face to face. Someone who can talk through documents, provide reassurance or advise on solutions. These services are not, initially, profitable but over time, it is the providers who offer these services that will win the hearts and minds of the public, not those who put cost-cutting first.