Santander Announces Major Branch Closures Across the UK in 2026
Santander has revealed plans to shut down 44 of its bank branches throughout the United Kingdom in 2026, a move that places nearly 300 jobs at risk. The banking giant attributes these closures to a significant and ongoing shift among customers towards digital banking services, reflecting broader trends in the financial sector.
Digital Shift Drives Branch Network Overhaul
The Spain-based bank reported that as many as 96 per cent of all transactions are now completed through digital channels, prompting this substantial overhaul of its physical store network. In response to this digital migration, Santander is implementing changes to better align with customer preferences and behaviours.
A spokeswoman for Santander stated: ‘In response to a continuing and sizeable shift towards customers using digital banking, we are making changes to our branches to better support our customers. We will continue to invest in both our branch network – comprising of full-service branches, counter-free branches, reduced-hour branches, Santander Locals, and our increasingly popular work cafes – as well as our digital banking services, so we can be there to support our customers however they choose to bank with us.’
Community Bankers to Replace Closing Branches
To maintain a presence in local communities, Santander will replace the closing branches with ‘community bankers’ who will operate from Santander Local stores or banking hubs. This approach aims to ensure that customers still have access to in-person banking support, albeit through a more flexible and digitally integrated model.
The affected branches span the entire country, from Ramsgate in Kent to Scunthorpe in North Lincolnshire, indicating a nationwide impact. This announcement follows the closure of 95 branches in March of the previous year, which resulted in 750 job losses, highlighting a consistent trend of branch reductions within the bank.
Full List of Santander Branch Closures in 2026
The closures are scheduled throughout 2026, with specific dates for each branch. Below is the complete list of Santander branches set to shut down:
April 2026 Closures
- 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
May 2026 Closures
- 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
Closures by End of January 2027
- Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire
- Ormskirk, Lancashire
- Whitehaven, Cumbria
- Wilmslow, Cheshire
This extensive list underscores the widespread nature of the closures, affecting communities across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The move reflects Santander’s strategic pivot towards a more digital-focused banking model, while attempting to balance this with community engagement through alternative in-person services.
