Ana Botín formally approved by the FSA as Chief Executive

Further to the announcement made on 3 November 2010, Santander UK plc ("the Company") announces that the appointment of Ana Botín as Chief Executive has been formally approved by the FSA.

As a result, Ana Botín will assume the role of Chief Executive with effect from 1 December 2010. Antonio Horta-Osório has formally resigned as Chief Executive and Executive Director with effect from 1 December 2010 and will leave the Company on 16 January 2011.

The Board of Directors of the Company have resolved to appoint, subject to FSA approval, Jose María Nus as Chief Risk Officer and Executive Director. Until now, Jose Mariá Nus was Chief Risk Officer at Banesto. Juan Colombás has resigned as Chief Risk Officer and Executive Director with effect from 1 December 2010 and will leave the Company on 16 January 2011.

The duties of the Chief Finance Officer will be divided as follows, subject to FSA approval:

Justo Gómez, until now Deputy Chief Finance Officer of Banesto, will join the Company's Executive Committee as Finance Director, responsible for Asset & Liability Management, Economics and Investor Relations;

Mónica Cueva, until now Financial Controller for Banco Santander, S.A., will join the Company's Executive Committee as Financial Controller, responsible for Financial Reporting, Tax and Cost Management & Control;

Alison Brittain, Executive Director, Retail Distribution and member of the Company's Executive Committee, will assume responsibility for Intermediaries in addition to her existing responsibilities; and

Miguel-Ángel Rodríguez-Sola, a member of the Company's Executive Committee, will assume responsibility for Wealth Management and Private Banking in addition to his existing responsibilities.

The above appointments follow the resignation of Antonio Lorenzo as Executive Director with effect from 1 December 2010 and as Chief Finance Officer from 31 December 2010. Antonio Lorenzo will leave the Company on 16 January 2011.

The Board of Directors of the Company have resolved to appoint, subject to FSA approval, Alfredo Sáenz Abad, Second Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Banco Santander, S.A., as a Non Executive Director.

A further confirmatory announcement confirming the effective date of the appointment of Jose María Nus as Chief Risk Officer and Executive Director and Alfredo Sáenz Abad as Non Executive Director will be made in due course.

For further details, please contact:

Anthony Frost (Head of UK Corporate Communications) 020 7756 5536

Peter Greiff (Head of Group International Media Relations) 00 34 91 289 5207 / 00 34 615 909 582