Santander UK to Close 44 Branches, Affecting Nearly 300 Jobs

Santander UK announced on 29 January 2026 that it will close 44 of its bank branches, with the move affecting both staff and customers across the country.

The company stated that around 291 jobs are at risk as a result of these closures. After the changes are implemented, Santander UK’s branch network will consist of 305 locations, which include a mix of full-service branches, counter-free branches, reduced-hour branches, Work Cafés, and Santander Locals.

The bank said that Community Bankers will provide face-to-face support in areas where branches are closing, operating from Santander Locals or Banking Hubs. This approach is intended to maintain in-person services for customers who rely on branch access.

Santander UK stated it will proactively contact customers who may be vulnerable and offer support to employees impacted by the closures. The company plans to assist affected staff with redeployment opportunities, outplacement services, and wellbeing resources.

What the numbers show

• 44 branches are scheduled to close in 2026
• 305 total branch locations will remain after the closures
• 291 jobs are at risk from the latest round of closures
• 244 full-service branches will be part of the revised network
• In-branch transactions have declined by 66% since 2019

This latest announcement follows a previous decision in March 2025, when Santander UK said it would close 95 branches. At that time, the company reported that 750 jobs were at risk and expected the network to reduce to 349 branches after those closures.

The company has attributed the ongoing changes to a substantial shift towards digital banking. Santander UK reported a 66% drop in in-branch financial transactions since 2019, which the company cited as a key factor in its decision to adjust its branch network.

The revised network will include 244 full-service branches, 19 counter-free branches, 36 reduced-hour branches, six Work Cafés, and 111 Santander Locals. Community Bankers will operate from some of these locations to continue providing in-person banking support.

Santander UK stated that it will continue to monitor customer needs and adapt its services accordingly. The company confirmed that it will offer additional support to both customers and employees affected by the ongoing changes to its branch network.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.