Santander to close 44 branches risking hundreds of jobs

Core Viewpoint - Santander is closing 44 branches across the UK, putting nearly 300 jobs at risk, in response to a shift towards digital banking [1][10]. Group 1: Branch Closures and Job Impact - The bank plans to close most branches in April and May 2023, with four additional closures scheduled for January 2027 [2]. - This move follows a previous announcement to shut down 95 branches last year, which put 750 jobs at risk [7]. - After the closures, Santander will operate only 305 branches, with 80% of them providing essential services like mortgage advice and cash deposits [1]. Group 2: Leadership Changes - Mike Regnier, Santander's UK chief, is stepping down after five years, coinciding with the branch closure announcement [3][4]. Group 3: Industry Context - The trend of closing branches is not unique to Santander; other banks like Barclays, Lloyds, NatWest, and HSBC have also reduced their high street presence [4]. - In response to the closures, banks are launching shared banking hubs to provide deposit services, although many are yet to open [6]. Group 4: Strategic Decisions and Financial Context - Santander's decision to close branches comes after it recommitted to the UK market despite previous considerations to exit due to regulatory challenges and low returns [8]. - The bank recently acquired TSB for £2.6 billion, which will add five million customers and 218 branches to its operations [10].