Botin to set out cost savings from Santander digital drive after deal spree

Core Viewpoint - Santander's CEO Ana Botin aims to present a more efficient bank with increased cost savings from its digital initiatives, emphasizing growth in core developed markets following significant acquisitions [1] Group 1: Strategic Acquisitions - Santander recently completed a $12.2 billion acquisition of U.S. lender Webster, reinforcing its focus on the U.S. market alongside Spain and Britain [1] - The acquisition of Webster and the previous deal for Britain's TSB are part of Botin's strategy to simplify the bank's structure and enhance profitability [1] - The share of developed markets in Santander's gross operating profit is projected to rise to nearly two-thirds post-acquisitions, up from 56% [1] Group 2: Financial Performance and Goals - Botin aims to increase the bank's profitability ratio to over 20% by 2028, up from 16.3% [1] - Santander's stock has surged approximately 80% over the past year, with the bank's market value now close to 160 billion euros, surpassing UBS as the largest lender in continental Europe [1] - The bank's cost-to-income ratio improved to 41.2% by the end of 2025, down from 44.1%, with further reductions targeted through cost-saving measures [1] Group 3: Cost-Saving Initiatives - Santander plans to create a unified IT platform and operating model to reduce service costs, with expected annual savings from the Webster deal estimated at $800 million and synergies from TSB projected at 400 million pounds [1] - The bank has reduced its workforce by about 14,000 employees over the last two years, bringing the total below 200,000 [1] - Analysts forecast that Santander's M&A and IT transformation could enable a cost-to-income ratio in the 30%-39% range [1]