Press releases

• Santander is making £75m available for SMEs affected by collapse of Carillion
• Dedicated helpline launched to support customers 
• Support available for mortgage customers

A father and daughter team of entrepreneurial pharmacists has acquired three pharmacies in Lancashire following a seven-figure funding package from Santander Corporate & Commercial. The acquisitions complement their four other established pharmacies in the UK, including O’Brien’s Chemist at the Fleetwood Health and Well Being Centre.
 

• Santander ’fake job ad’ experiment¹ convinces one third of Brits² to apply for a job as a money mule. Only fifteen per cent rightly identified the role as that of a money mule.
• Of those who fell for the ad, seven per cent said they would still apply for the job even after they were informed it was a role as a money mule.
• Those aged 18-24 years were most easily duped, while regionally those in Northern Ireland were most likely to fall for the scam.
• 71 per cent of people are unaware of the term ‘money mule’ but even when given an explanation of what it is over a quarter thought it may carry no criminal punishment.

• Partnership enables Santander’s SME* clients to launch stores on JD.com Worldwide, the cross-border e-commerce platform
• Agreement signed during visit by Rt. Hon. Dr Liam Fox, Secretary of State for International Trade

Santander has today announced a £917million commercial real estate loan securitisation. The deal (which closed on 22 December 2017), a collateralised loan obligation, Red1 Finance CLO 2017-1 Designated Activity Company (Red1), is one of the first post financial crisis synthetic transactions of UK commercial Real Estate assets.

• Demand from emerging markets, the rise of the ‘green chemistry’ industry, and the need for specialist chemicals for 3-D printing are some of the key opportunities for the UK’s chemical manufacturers
• Manufacturers should continue to invest in R&D and focus on exports
• Digitalisation has the scope to reduce costs, big opportunities lie in optimisation, better security and ‘smart’ manufacturing

North Devon-based supplier of sustainable building and decorating products Mike Wye & Associates is building a specialist eco property to showcase innovative sustainable products and building skills following £250,000 funding from Santander Business Banking. Two additional members of staff have been hired in preparation for this project.

The Together Project, a London-based community programme which runs activities that unite different age groups, has received £10,000 of matched funding from Santander’s innovative Changemaker Fund.

London-based Battery Energy Storage Solutions Ltd (“BESS”), a leading independent provider of power storage, energy security and energy flexibility services, has secured £28.5 million in funding from Santander Corporate & Commercial to execute its strategy of becoming one of the UK’s largest independent owners and operators of battery storage assets. The short term strategy is to build and operate a portfolio of 100MW of grid scale battery storage assets by the end of 2018.

MESH, a community interest company which is setting up Plymouth’s first Library of Things, has received £3,710 of matched funding from Santander’s innovative Changemaker Fund. The library will enable people in Plymouth to borrow tools and equipment in a similar way to borrowing books from a traditional library.

Madlug, a community-based social enterprise in Northern Ireland which helps children in care carry their personal possessions with dignity by providing them with a specially designed bag, has received £10,000 of matched funding from Santander’s innovative Changemaker Fund.

Bromsgrove-based company Watertight Management Ltd, specialists in civil engineering and clean and waste water management services, is set to open new premises at Saxon Business Park in Bromsgrove following £522,000 in funding from Santander Business Banking 

As part of Santander's commitment to the BBA Protocol on Branch Closures, we publish impact assessment on branches which fall within the Protocol. These can be found here.

• Santander shows support for the rental sector, extending Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) policy from the current maximum of 12, to a new 36 months
   
• Residential tenants now have the security of knowing their rent will remain at an agreed rate for longer, enabling them to better budget
   
• Landlords also benefit, with guaranteed tenants and a regular rental income for a greater period of time

On 13 December 2017, Santander UK will officially open its newly designed and refurbished branch on Town Street, Horsforth. It is the latest of Santander’s branches to be re-designed as part of a programme to deliver even better customer service and community-friendly banking.

• Santander UK plc has today announced the appointment of Michael Harte as Chief Operating Officer (COO). 
• Michael will oversee Santander UK’s business divisions and investments in the areas of technology and operations, networks, property and digital change management.  His role will also include joint responsibility, with Sigga Sigurdardottir, for Customer & Innovation services to lead the digital transformation of the bank. Together they will look to build a team of talented leaders in digital and data customer services and business solutions.

• Santander data predicts the busiest time for withdrawals at its ATMs over the Christmas period is set to be between 12pm and 1pm on Friday 22 December
• Withdrawing cash to give as monetary gifts is the most popular reason for using the ATM over the Christmas period
• Santander urges shoppers to remain alert when using cash machines and offers tips to keep their cash safe

• Santander data reveals that five per cent of customers logged in to their online banking on Christmas Day, while thirteen people applied for a mortgage between Christmas Day and Boxing Day
• 10.00am-12.00pm was the most popular time for customers to log in to their online banking
• The data showed that securing a mortgage was predominantly a priority for males based in the North

On Monday, 4 December 2017, Santander UK will officially open its newly designed and refurbished branch on St Stephen’s Place, Plympton. It is the latest of Santander’s branches to be re-designed as part of a programme to deliver even better customer service and community-friendly banking.

On Wednesday, 13 December 2017, Santander UK will officially open its newly designed and refurbished branch on Preston Street, Wembley. It is the latest of Santander’s branches to be re-designed as part of a programme to deliver even better customer service and community-friendly banking.