Santander has issued a message to customers as it makes changes to its branch offering, with key dates coming up over the rest of 2026. The bank is opening new 'Work Café' spots where people can do some remote working with a coffee and access basic banking services. The newest Work Café opened among the skyscrapers in London's Canary Wharf in May 2026.
Message displayed at Canary Wharf
A screen outside the Canary Wharf location displays several messages to visitors. One of these informs customers: "Here for you. We won't make any further branch closures before 2028."
Santander previously promised to keep its remaining branches open for the time being. In a message to customers about this pledge, the bank explained: "There may be situations we can't control that mean we have to close or relocate a branch. We'll only do so if there's no other option."
Pledges against wider trend
Nationwide Building Society made a similar promise previously, saying it would keep all of its branches open until at least 2030. These pledges from the big retail banks go against the wider trend, as major banks have shut hundreds of locations over recent years. Bank leaders often explain these closures by pointing out that more customers now bank online, meaning they have much less footfall at their branches.
Along with its closure promise, Santander is revamping 31 branches in 2026. This comes after it carried out 52 branch makeovers in 2025.
Branch updates underway
Franz McCoy, head of branch interactions at Santander UK, said: "Investing in our branches reflects our commitment to helping customers bank with us in a way that suits them, whether that’s face-to-face in branch, via one of our state-of-the-art Work Cafes, or using our digital or over the phone service. We're proud to be there to support our customers however they wish to bank."
Santander branches being updated in 2026 include Croydon (George Street) – completed in April; Truro (Boscawen Street), Weston-Super-Mare (High Street), and Liverpool (Prescot Road) – completed in July; Lewisham (High Street), Eastbourne (Terminus Road), Rhyl (High Street), St Helens (Bridge Street), Newry (Hill Street), and Dudley (High Street) – completed or scheduled in August and September; Dartford (High Street), Beaumont Leys (Fletcher Mall), Tooting (Upper Tooting Road), Lisburn (Bow Street), Altrincham (Stamford New Road), Walthamstow (High Street), Rugby (Market Place), Salisbury (Silver Street), Muswell Hill (Muswell Hill Broadway), Stockton (High Street), and Bury (Union Street) – scheduled for September and October; Ashford (High Street), Ealing (Bond Street), Llandudno (Mostyn Street), Halifax (Southgate), Leamington Spa (The Parade), Ashton-U-Lyne (Old Street), Widnes (Albert Road), Barkingside (High Street), and Islington (High Street) – scheduled for November and December.
