Thurso Santander Bank Branch Escapes Closure as 140 Branches Axed

23rd January 2019

Santander has today announced plans to reshape its branch network and close 140 branches in response to changes in how customers are choosing to carry out their banking.

Santander's future branch network will be made up of a combination of larger branches offering improved community facilities to support local businesses and customers, and smaller branches using the latest technology to offer customers more convenient access to banking services.

Santander has consulted its trade unions on the proposed changes and will seek to find alternative roles for the 1,270 colleagues affected wherever possible. 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 support customers of closing branches to find other ways to bank that best suit their needs, including individual help to find alternative Santander branches and access digital, telephone and Post Office banking services.

Santander will retain a nationwide network of 614 branches following the proposed changes. All Santander current and business account holders can also bank using one of over 11,000 Post Office branches across the UK.

In order to deliver a branch network for the future, 100 Santander branches will be refurbished over the next two years through an investment of £55m. The refurbishments will include a range of changes with a focus on personal service, convenience and community engagement.

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.

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.

In 1988 there were over 20,000 branches of banks and building societies and this has dwindled to around 7500 across the UK in 2019.

Santander have carriedo ut impact assessments on every branch which is to close. The assessments can be found at-

https://www.santander.co.uk/personal/support/ways-to-bank/our-branches

List of Santander Branches to close -

Aberdeen George Street - 99 George Street, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, AB25 1HU - 7 November 2019

Acton - 156 High Street, Acton, London, W3 6RF - 27 June 2019

Aldershot - 103 High Street, Aldershot, Hampshire, GU11 1BY - 16 May 2019

Alloa - 69 Mill Street, Alloa, Clackmannanshire, FK10 1DX - 6 June 2019

Amersham - 51 Sycamore Road, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, HP6 5EQ - 20 June 2019

Ammanford - 2 Quay Street, Ammanford, Dyfed, SA18 3DB - 30 May 2019

Antrim - 46 High Street, Antrim, County Antrim, BT41 4BX - 30 May 2019

Axminster - West Street, Axminster, Devon, EX13 5NU - 2 May 2019

Aylsham - 1 Red Lion Street, Aylsham, Norfolk, NR11 6ER - 4 July 2019

Ballymoney - 16 Church Street, Ballymoney, County Antrim, BT53 6DL - 16 May 2019

Bathgate George Street - 14 George Street, Bathgate, West Lothian, EH48 1PW - 25 April 2019

Belfast Newtownards Road - 423-425 Newtownards Road, Belfast, County Antrim, BT4 1AT - 20 June 2019

Berkhamsted - 230 High Street, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, HP4 1BP - 20 June 2019

Bideford - 16 The Quay, Bideford, Devon, EX39 2EB - 25 April 2019

Birmingham New Street - 69 New Street, Birmingham, West Midlands, B2 4DU - 25 July 2019

Birmingham Acocks Green - 1109 Warwick Road, Acocks Green, Birmingham, West Midlands, B27 6RA - 2 May 2019

Birstall - 661 Loughborough Road, Birstall, Leicestershire, LE4 4NL - 27 June 2019

Boscombe Christchurch Road - 630 Christchurch Road, Boscombe, Dorset, BH1 4BP - 13 June 2019

Brechin - 24 St David Street, Brechin, Angus, DD9 6EQ - 9 May 2019

Brixham - 14 Fore Street, Brixham, Devon, TQ5 8JJ - 30 May 2019

Broadstone - 214 Lower Blandford Road, Broadstone, Dorset, BH18 8DX - 9 May 2019

Burnley - Briercliffe Road, Burnley, Lancashire, BB10 1UR - 27 June 2019

Buxton - 73 Spring Gardens, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 6DN - 27 June 2019

Chandlers Ford - 1 & 2 The Mall, Winchester Road, Chandlers Ford, Hampshire, SO53 2QD - 11 July 2019

Cheam - 8 The Broadway, Cheam, Surrey, SM3 8AY - 6 June 2019

Clapham High Street - 164 Clapham High Street, Clapham, London, SW4 7TZ - 2 May 2019

Cleethorpes - 43 St Peters Avenue, Cleethorpes, South Humberside, DN35 8JQ - 4 July 2019

Clitheroe - 1 Castle Street, Clitheroe, Lancashire, BB7 2BT - 25 April 2019

Coalville - 14 Belvoir Road, Coalville, Leicestershire, LE67 3PE - 11 July 2019

Cockermouth - 9 Station Street, Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 9QW - 2 May 2019

Cockfosters - 10 Station Parade, Cockfosters, Hertfordshire, EN4 0DL - 16 May 2019

Colchester Culver Street West - 23 Culver Street West, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1JG - 7 November 2019

Corby - 3 Spencer Court, Corby, Northamptonshire, NN17 1NU - 25 April 2019

Coventry High Street - 29 High Street, Waters Court, Coventry, Warwickshire, CV1 5RE - 7 November 2019

Crosby - 84 Coronation Road, Crosby, Merseyside, L23 5RH - 13 June 2019

Crouch End - 5 The Broadway, Crouch End, London, N8 8DS - 4 July 2019

Devizes - 4 St Johns Street, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 1BP - 16 May 2019

Didcot - 146 Broadway, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 8SH - 4 July 2019

Dorchester - 3 Cornhill, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1BA - 27 June 2019

Dorking - 22 South Street, Dorking, Surrey, RH4 2QW - 18 July 2019

Driffield - 49 Market Place, Driffield, East Yorkshire, YO25 6AW - 30 May 2019

East Sheen - 347 Upper Richmond Road West, East Sheen, London, SW14 8RH - 25 July 2019

Eastcote - 137 Field End Road, Eastcote, Middlesex, HA5 1QN - 25 April 2019

Edinburgh Leith Walk - 15-21 Leith Walk, Edinburgh, Lothian, EH6 8LN - 9 May 2019

Edinburgh 194-196 Morningside Road - 194-196 Morningside Road, Edinburgh, Lothian, EH10 4TD - 12 December 2019

Egham - 45 High Street, Egham, Surrey, TW20 9DP - 30 May 2019

Epping - 273-275 High Street, Epping, Essex, CM16 4DP - 6 June 2019

Esher - 41-43 High Street, Esher, Surrey, KT10 9SQ - 27 June 2019

Feltham - 32-34 The Centre, Feltham, Middlesex, TW13 4AU - 11 July 2019

Fleetwood - 76 Lord Street, Fleetwood, Lancashire, FY7 6UN - 27 June 2019

Forfar - 83 Castle Street, Forfar, Angus, DD8 3AG - 25 July 2019

Four Oaks - 290 Lichfield Road, Four Oaks, West Midlands, B74 2UG - 9 May 2019

Gainsborough - 11-13 Market Street, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, DN21 2BL - 13 June 2019

Gerrards Cross - 75 Packhorse Road, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, SL9 8QP - 23 May 2019

Glasgow Forge Shopping Centre - Forge Shopping Centre, Gallowgate, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, G31 4EB - 27 June 2019

Glasgow Springburn Shopping Centre - Springburn Shopping Centre, Springburn Way, Glasgow, Lanarkshire G21 1TP - 20 June 2019

Godalming - 104 High Street, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 1HG - 6 June 2019

Goole - 31 Boothferry Road, Goole, East Yorkshire, DN14 5DE - 13 June 2019

Gracechurch Street - 51-54 Gracechurch Street, London City, London, EC3V 0EH - 25 April 2019

Guildford High Street - 166 High Street, Guildford, Surrey GU1 3HR - 12 December 2019

Hadleigh - 253 London Road, Hadleigh, Essex, SS7 2RF - 23 May 2019

Haslemere - 93e Weyhill, Haslemere, Surrey, GU27 1HS - 25 April 2019

Havant - 7d West Street, Havant, Hampshire, PO9 1EH - 25 July 2019

Heathfield - 56 High Street, Heathfield, East Sussex, TN21 8JQ - 13 June 2019

Helensburgh - 1-3 West Princess Street, Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire, G84 8TW - 25 April 2019

Henley-On-Thames - 18 Duke Street, Henley-On-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 1UT - 30 May 2019

Holt - 29 Market Place, Holt, Norfolk, NR25 6BE - 13 June 2019

Hythe - 63 High Street, Hythe, Kent, CT21 5AJ - 6 June 2019

Keynsham - 67 High Street, Keynsham, Avon, BS31 1DL - 4 July 2019

Kingswinford - 1 Moss Grove, Kingswinford, West Midlands, DY6 9HS - 6 June 2019

Kirkcaldy High Street - 133 High Street, Kirkcaldy, Fife, KY1 1LR - 13 June 2019

Knutsford - 39-41 Princess Street, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 6BW - 6 June 2019

Lanark - 112 High Street, Lanark, Lanarkshire, ML11 7ES - 4 July 2019

Leather Lane - 10a Leather Lane, High Holborn, London, EC1N 7YH - 12 December 2019

Leeds Street Lane - 77 Street Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS8 1BN - 4 July 2019

Leicester Evington Road - 136 Evington Road, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE2 1HL - 13 June 2019

Leicester Uppingham Road - 265 Uppingham Road, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE5 4DG - 9 May 2019

Liverpool Church Street - 84 Church Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 3AY - 7 November 2019

Llangefni - 14 High Street, Llangefni, Gwynedd, LL77 7YZ - 4 July 2019

Ludgate Circus - 11 Ludgate Circus, Ludgate Circus, London, EC4M 7LQ - 27 June 2019

Lymington - 96 High Street, Lymington, Hampshire, SO41 9AP - 25 July 2019

Manchester Cross Street - 28/34 Cross Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M2 7AQ - 5 December 2019

Marylebone High Street - 27 Marylebone High Street, Central London, London, W1U 4AD - 16 May 2019

Middleton - Colmar House, Manchester New Road, Middleton, Greater Manchester, M24 4DB - 25 July 2019

Monmouth - 28 Agincourt Square, Monmouth, Monmouthshire, NP25 3BT - 30 May 2019

Morden - 52 London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5DL - 9 May 2019

Newmarket - 104 High Street, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 8JQ - 30 May 2019

North Shields - 103 Bedford Street, North Shields, Tyne & Wear, NE29 6PQ - 9 May 2019

Northwood - 42/44 Green Lane, Northwood, Middlesex, HA6 2QB - 16 May 2019

Norwich St Stephens Street - 28 St Stephens Street, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 3SH - 12 December 2019

Nottingham 2 Clumber Street - 2 Clumber Street, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG1 3GA - 12 December 2019

Oakham - 6/8 Market Place, Oakham, Leicestershire, LE15 6DT - 25 April 2019

Otley - 15-17 Kirkgate, Otley, West Yorkshire, LS21 3HN - 16 May 2019

Oxted - 135 Station Road East, Oxted, Surrey, RH8 0QD - 16 May 2019

Parkstone - 213 Ashley Road, Parkstone, Dorset, BH14 9EG - 18 July 2019

Pembroke - 15 Main Street, Pembroke, Dyfed, SA71 4JS - 9 May 2019

Penarth - 4-4a Windsor Road, Penarth, South Glamorgan, CF64 1JH - 2 May 2019

Plymouth New George Street - 78 New George Street, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 1EF - 5 December 2019

Portobello Road - 174 Portobello Road, Notting Hill, London, W11 2EB - 25 July 2019

Portslade - 34 Station Road, Portslade, East Sussex, BN41 1HR - 23 May 2019

Purley - 938 Brighton Road, Purley, Surrey, CR8 2LP- 20 June 2019

Queensway - 170 Queensway, Queensway, London, W2 6NT - 25 April 2019

Ramsbottom - 29 Bolton Street, Ramsbottom, Lancashire, BL0 9HU - 20 June 2019

Rayners Lane - 412-414 Rayners Lane, Rayners Lane, Harrow, Middlesex, HA5 5HA - 4 July 2019

Reigate - 26 High Street, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 9AZ - 13 June 2019

Renfrew - 7 High Street, Renfrew, Renfrewshire, PA4 8HY - 18 July 2019

Ripon - 15 Fishergate, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 1EA - 6 June 2019

Romsey - 14 Market Place, Romsey, Hampshire, SO51 8QS - 18 July 2019

Ryde - 34 High Street, Ryde, Isle Of Wight, PO33 2HL - 6 June 2019

Selby Market Cross - 22 Market Cross Shopping Centre, Selby, North Yorkshire, YO8 4JS - 16 May 2019

Selsdon - 174 Addington Road, Selsdon, Surrey, CR2 8YL - 25 July 2019

Shoreham - 35-37 High Street, Shoreham By Sea, West Sussex, BN43 5DD - 2 May 2019

Shrewsbury High Street - 20 High Street, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY1 1SJ - 5 December 2019

Sidmouth - Fore Street, Sidmouth, Devon, EX10 8HU - 20 June 2019

Skipton High Street - 67 High Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1DS - 18 July 2019

South Woodham Ferrers - 12-14 Chandlers Way, South Woodham Ferrers, Essex, CM3 5TA - 2 May 2019

Southend High Street - 27 High Street, Southend-On-Sea, Essex, SS1 1JD - 7 November 2019

St Andrews - 145 Market Street, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9PZ - 2 May 2019

Stanmore - 17 Church Road, Stanmore, Middlesex, HA7 4BW - 2 May 2019

Stowmarket - 16 Market Place, Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 1DP - 25 July 2019

Swiss Cottage - 8 Harben Parade, Finchley Road, Swiss Cottage, London, NW3 6JP - 9 May 2019

Tavistock - 49 Brook Street, Tavistock, Devon, PL19 0BJ - 23 May 2019

Tonypandy - 121 Dunraven Street, Tonypandy, Mid Glamorgan, CF40 1AS - 11 July 2019

Totnes - 58/60 Fore Street, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 5RU - 27 June 2019

Troon - 17 Portland Street, Troon, Ayrshire, KA10 6AZ - 18 July 2019

Ulverston - 17 New Market Street, Ulverston, Cumbria, LA12 7LQ - 30 May 2019

Upminster - 21 Corbets Tey Road, Upminster, Essex, RM14 2JS - 13 June 2019

Wandsworth - 127-129 High Street, Wandsworth, London, SW18 4JB - 30 May 2019

Ware - 55 High Street, Ware, Hertfordshire, SG12 9BA - 11 July 2019

Watford Harlequin Centre - 15-17 Queens Road, The Harlequin Centre, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD17 2LJ - 7 November 2019

Wealdstone - 25 High Street, Wealdstone, Harrow, Middlesex, HA3 5DJ - 20 June 2019

West Ealing - 114 The Broadway, West Ealing, London, W13 0SY - 9 May 2019

West Kirby - 32 Grange Road, West Kirby, Merseyside, CH48 4HS - 20 June 2019

Wetherby - 41 High Street, Wetherby, West Yorkshire, LS22 6LR - 16 May 2019

Windermere - 8 Crescent Road, Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 1EA - 23 May 2019

Wisbech - 39 Market Place, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE13 1DP - 2 May 2019

Woodley - 107 Crockhamwell Road, Woodley, Berkshire, RG5 3SL - 4 July 2019

Worcester Park - 101 Central Road, Worcester Park, Surrey, KT4 8DP - 20 June 2019

Workington - 60 Pow Street, Workington, Cumbria, CA14 3AB - 6 June 2019

Yeadon - 25 High Street, Yeadon, West Yorkshire, LS19 7SP - 25 July 2019