More than 1,200 jobs at risk as Santander announces bank closures

Ten Yorkshire branches of Santander will close as part of the bank’s announcement today that it will close 140 branches nationwide, with 1,270 jobs at risk.

Those in the region due to close are: Cleethorpes (closing 4 July), Driffield (closing 30 May), Goole (closing 13 June), Leeds Street Lane (closing 4 July), Otley (closing 16 May), Ripon (closing 6 June 2019), Selby Market Cross (closing 16 May), Skipton High Street (closing 18 July), Wetherby ( closing 16 May) and Yeadon (closing 25 July).

Santander said that the changes were “in response to changes in how customers are choosing to carry out their banking.” The number of transactions carried out via Santander branches has fallen by 23% over the past three years, while transactions via digital channels have grown by 99% over the same period.

The Spanish-owned bank said its future branch network would be made up of a combination of larger branches “offering improved community facilities to support local businesses and customers”, as well as smaller branches “using the latest technology to offer customers more convenient access to banking services.”

Santander said it had consulted its trade unions on the proposed changes and would seek to find alternative roles for the 1,270 colleagues affected.

The bank added: “Santander expects to be able to redeploy around a third of those affected and will be closely supporting colleagues over the coming weeks as the consultation process continues.”

Santander will retain a nationwide network of 614 branches following the proposed changes. A total of 100 Santander branches will be refurbished over the next two years through an investment of £55m, it added.

Susan Allen, Head of Retail and Business Banking, said: “The way our customers are choosing to bank with us has changed dramatically in recent years, with more and more customers using online and mobile channels. As a result, we have had to take some very difficult decisions over our less visited branches, and those where we have other branches in close proximity.

“We will support customers of closing branches to find alternative ways to bank with us that best suit their individual needs. We are also working alongside our unions to support colleagues through these changes and to find alternative roles for those impacted wherever possible.”

“We continue to believe that branches have a vital role to play and we will be refurbishing 100 of our branches over the next two years. We are confident that following these changes we will have the right branch network to serve our customers’ changing needs, and we expect the size of our network to remain stable for the foreseeable future.”