Santander has confirmed plans to close 44 bank branches throughout 2026 and early 2027 in a blow to Britain’s high streets, which will put 291 jobs at risk.
The bank confirmed these closures were part of wider plans to transform ts branch network in response to changing customer behaviour, as more Britons opt for online banking services.
It should be noted that closed branches will be replaced by Community Bankers, operating either from a Santander Local or, where required, a Banking Hub, to provide ongoing face-to-face support for communities.
Bank branch closures have become the norm in recent years, with research from consumer champion Which? revealing that 6,000 locations were shut down between 2025 and 2024.
Santander will close 44 branches in a blow to Britons
|
PAHere is a full list of the Santander bank branch closures for 2026 and early 2027:
April 2026
Bangor – April 29
Berwick Upon Tweed – April 28
Boston – April 28
Bridgwater – April 29
Evesham – April 28
Kirkintilloch – April 29
Melton Mowbray – April 29
Mold – April 28
Newbury – April 29
Ramsgate – April 28
Scunthorpe – April 29
Tonbridge – April 29
Woking – April 28
May 2026
Andover – May 12
Banbridge – May 19
Bishop Auckland – May 5
Bridgend – May 12
Cwmbran – May 13
Enniskillen – May 12
Glengormley – May 6
Golders Green – May 13
Gosport – May 5
Haverfordwest – May 5
Heswall – May 13
Huntingdon – May 5
Leyland – May 6
Liskeard – May 20
Macclesfield – May 12
Mansfield – May 6
Merthyr Tydfil – May 6
Newton Abbot – May 19
Northallerton – May 6
Pontefract – May 5
Redditch – May 13
Ringwood – May 6
Shirley – May 20
Stafford – May 19
Stranraer – May 13
Stratford Upon Avon – May 12
Welwyn Garden City – May 5
January 2027
Leighton Buzzard – January, end (2027)
Ormskirk – January, end (2027)
Whitehaven – January, end (2027)
Wilmslow – January, end (2027)
Bank branch closures are continuing at an ‘alarming rate’, according to Which? | GETTY
A Santander 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.
“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 Cafés – as well as our digital banking services, so we can be there to support our customers however they choose to bank with us.”
After the looming changes, Santander network will be made up of 305 branches including 244 full-service branches, 19 counter-free branches, 36 reduced-hour branches, and six Work Cafés, alongside 111 Santander Locals.
According to the bank, Santander has witnessed a spike in customers choosing to do their banking digitally, with 96 per cent of all transactions now being completed in digital channel
Britons have become increasingly concerned about cash access amid recent bank branch closures | GETTY
Since 2019, 83 per cent of current accounts with Santander have been opened digitally with the high street financial institution seeing a 67 per cent spike in mobile banking users.
Over this period of time, there has been a 109 per cent rise in mobile banking app transactions, with a 70 per cent rise in mobile logins.
Around 291 staff members would be placed at risk of redundancy if the proposals proceed after consultation with the unions has been completed, Santander has stated there will be a number of redeployment opportunities that impacted colleagues can apply for.
Extra support will be provided to those colleagues, including assistance in finding redeployment roles within the bank, access to specialist outplacement support, and dedicated well-being support. A 24-hour Employee Assistance Helpline is also available for colleagues.