Santander Announces Closure of 40 UK Branches by End of May 2026
Santander, the Spanish banking giant, is set to close 40 of its high street branches across the United Kingdom by the end of May 2026. This move comes as part of a broader restructuring effort driven by a significant shift in customer behaviour towards digital banking platforms.
Digital Transformation Drives Branch Closures
The decision to shutter these branches is a direct result of the increasing preference among customers for online banking services. Santander has reported that a staggering 96% of customer transactions are now conducted through digital channels, rendering many physical locations redundant. This trend has accelerated in recent years, prompting the bank to reassess its branch network.
Earlier this year, Santander confirmed the closure of 44 branches nationwide, with four shutting down in January 2026. The latest announcement of 40 additional closures brings the total number of branches affected in 2026 to 44, following a previous round of 95 branch closures in March 2025, which impacted 750 employees.
Job Losses and Restructuring Efforts
The closure of these 40 branches puts 291 jobs at risk, adding to the ongoing job losses within the bank. In July 2025, then UK chief executive Mike Regnier revealed that approximately 2,000 jobs had been lost in the preceding year due to Santander's restructuring initiatives. Regnier had warned at the time that further redundancies were likely, a prediction that has now materialised with these latest cuts.
Santander has emphasised its commitment to supporting affected communities through the introduction of "community bankers" operating from Santander Local stores or shared banking hubs. This initiative aims to ensure that customers in areas impacted by the closures continue to have access to essential banking services, albeit in a more limited capacity.
Full List of Branch Closures and Dates
The closures are scheduled to commence at the end of April 2026, with further shutdowns following in May. Below is the complete list of branches affected, along with their respective closure dates:
Branches Closing in April 2026
- 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
Branches Closing in May 2026
- 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
The closure of these branches marks a significant step in Santander's ongoing adaptation to the digital age, reflecting broader trends in the banking industry as institutions grapple with changing consumer preferences and the need for operational efficiency.
