Santander Announces Major Branch Closures Across the UK
Banking giant Santander has confirmed plans to close 40 branches across the United Kingdom in April and May 2026, marking a significant reduction in its physical high street presence. This move follows an earlier announcement in January 2026, when the bank revealed it would shutter a total of 44 locations, including four that closed that same month.
Digital Shift Drives Closure Strategy
The decision to close these branches is primarily driven by a dramatic shift in customer behaviour towards digital banking services. Santander reported that over nine out of ten customer transactions, specifically 96%, are now conducted through online platforms. This trend has rendered many physical branches less essential, prompting the bank to streamline its operations.
In a statement, Santander explained that the closures are part of a broader restructuring effort aimed at adapting to the evolving financial landscape. The bank emphasised that affected customers will still have access to services through alternative means, such as "community bankers" operating from Santander Local stores or shared banking hubs.
Job Losses and Previous Restructuring
The closure of these 40 branches will put 291 jobs at risk, adding to a series of workforce reductions at the bank. This announcement comes less than a year after Santander closed 95 branches in March 2025, which impacted 750 employees. Further back, in July 2025, then UK chief executive Mike Regnier disclosed that approximately 2,000 jobs had been lost over the preceding year due to restructuring, with warnings that more redundancies were likely.
Santander has stated that it will work to support affected employees through this transition, though specific details on redundancy packages or redeployment opportunities have not been fully outlined.
Full List of Branch Closures
The closures will occur in two main waves, with branches spread across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Below is the complete schedule of affected locations:
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
This closure plan reflects Santander's ongoing adaptation to the digital age, but it also raises concerns about access to banking services in local communities and the impact on employment within the sector.
