On Tuesday 7 January 2020, Santander UK will officially open its newly redesigned branch at 157-159 Armada Way, Plymouth, PL1 1JF.  The new-look branch has been designed to deliver even better customer service and community-friendly banking.

The branch will be opened by Toby Gorniak MBE and Jo Gorniak, founders and directors of local charity Street Factory CIC, who will cut the ribbon on Tuesday morning. Street Factory CIC works with young and disadvantaged people in Plymouth, helping them explore their potential and passions through the performing arts.
 
Visitors to the branch will be able to enter a tombola, raffle and for our younger guests, a children’s colouring competition. A sweet stall will be available for those with a sweet tooth and colleagues will be taking part in a seven-hour cycling challenge on an exercise bike in branch. All money raised will be split between Street Factory CIC and Provide Devon, a charity that provides food and essentials to local people in crisis.
 
Colleagues in branch will also be running a Scam Avoidance School, to give customers hints and tips to avoid being caught out by scams. There will also be a free first-time buyer event to help those looking to start their homeownership journey in 2020 understand the complex homebuying process.
 
The new branch design includes facilities such as: digital workstations with tablets for online banking; Express Banking with a new ATM wall; counter services for more secure transactions and; private interview rooms for anyone who might need additional time or privacy to discuss their financial affairs.  The branch will also feature a picture wall to display local community initiatives, such as Santander Foundation grants.
 
It will also be equipped with talking ATMs giving customers the option to plug in headphones and be guided through their transaction by voice assistance, with or without the use of the ATM screen. 
 
The branch is managed by Elaine Bleazard and employs 24 staff, including a Mortgage and Protection Advisor and Financial Planning Manager.
 
Santander’s Head of Branches, Adam Bishop said: “Banking is changing at a rapid pace and we wanted to create a branch that can accommodate the needs of all our local customers.  That means combining traditional banking facilities, and a focus on delivering great customer service, with modern, digital services including free Wi-Fi, customer tablets and digital ATMs. 
 
“Santander branches are an important part of many communities and our investment in this branch reflects our commitment to Plymouth”

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Notes to Editors
 
1              Photos available on request.
 
Santander UK is a financial services provider in the UK that offers a wide range of personal and commercial financial products and services. It has brought real competition to the UK, through its innovative products for retail customers and relationship banking model for UK SMEs. At 30 June 2019, the bank has around 24,000 employees.  It serves around 15 million active customers, via a nationwide branch network, telephone, mobile and online banking; and 62 regional Corporate Business Centres. Santander UK is subject to the full supervision of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) in the UK. Santander UK plc customers’ eligible deposits 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, founded in 1857 and headquartered in Spain. It has a meaningful presence in 10 core markets in Europe and the Americas, and is the largest bank in the euro zone by market capitalization. At the end of June 2019, Banco Santander had EUR 1.03 trillion in customer funds (deposits and mutual funds), 142 million customers, 13,000 branches and 200,000 employees. Banco Santander made underlying profit of EUR 4,045 million in the first half of 2019, an increase of 2% in constant euros compared to the same period last year.
 
Media Enquiries:

Samantha Wrench T: 020 7756 4209 M: 07544 158 565 E: samantha.wrench@santander.co.uk
 
The press office operates from 8.00am to 6.00pm. Outside of these hours please call 0800 5877708.