'SANTAandDEER' managing director of Santander Business helps spread joy to children this Christmas

Santander has launched a new type of bank to help spread joy to less fortunate children this Christmas: ‘Santa&deer’.

From 5th December, children and staff have been dropping off new or nearly new toys in collection boxes and red sacks located in the bank’s branches all over the UK in exchange for chocolate coins. All of the toys received will be donated to local charities around the country to help those less fortunate this Christmas.

Santander in Norwich set up a ‘Santa&deer’ toy collection box in both branches and saw around 70 toys donated by local children. Sue Douthwaite, Managing Director Santander Business and James Veevers, Branch Director for Norwich presented the toys to East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH), at the charity’s Quidenham hospice yesterday

Sue Douthwaite, Managing Director Santander Business commented: “Santander is committed to playing a key part in the community and it was great to take part in the Santa&deer initiative and see first-hand the amazing work done by EACH. We were overwhelmed by the local support and the volume of toys we received, and hope the donations make a real difference to the children at the hospice.”

Sophie Mayes, Norfolk Corporate Fundraiser at EACH commented: “We were over the moon with the toys we received from the Santa&deer Christmas campaign. The generous donations from local children will really help make Christmas that little bit more special for families at EACH this year.”

The campaign which ran throughout the Christmas period saw toys distributed to a range of charities across the UK including Oxfam, Family Action, British Red Cross and many more to help as many families as possible. A short film to promote the ‘new’ bank was launched on Santander’s social media channels with two recognisable ambassadors lending a hand.

Jessica Ennis-Hill said: “It was really fun to take part in Santander’s Christmas campaign again this year. Christmas is such a special time and it’s wonderful to be able to bring happiness and joy to children across the UK.”

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Santander UK is a financial services provider in the UK that offers a wide range of personal and commercial financial products and services. As at 30 June 2016, the bank serves around 14 million active customers with c. 20,000 employees and operates through 841 branches (which includes 58 university branches) and 69 regional Corporate Business Centres. Santander UK is subject to the full supervision of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) in the UK. Santander UK plc customers are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) in the UK.

Banco Santander (SAN SM, STD US, BNC LN) is a leading retail and commercial bank, based in Spain, with a meaningful market share in 10 core countries in Europe and the Americas. Santander is among the world’s top banks by market capitalization. Founded in 1857, Santander had EUR 1.52 trillion in managed funds, 12,500 branches and 190,000 employees at the close of June 2016. In the first half of 2016, Santander made underlying profit of EUR 3,280 million.

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