2026
TSB Acquisition
Santander completes the £2.65 billion acquisition of TSB, representing the single largest investment in the UK banking sector for over 15 years
2020
Financial education
Santander launches The Numbers Game, its first initiative in a long-term partnership with educational platform, Twinkl, supporting more than 3.5 million students and 8,300 UK schools to date
2019
Work Cafes
We open our first UK Work Cafe on Park Row, Leeds as part of Santander Group’s vision to reinvent how we bring high street banking to customers, with 230 work cafes worldwide
2015
Digital bank
As part of our focus on delivering new solutions, and serve our customers more effectively we launched Kitti and Spendlytics apps and were one of the first banks to support Apple Pay
2014
Operating structure
Santander UK Group Holdings plc established as subsidiary of Banco Santander as a holding company for Santander UK and its subsidiaries. The new operating structure, creating a single point of entry in case of resolution
2012
1|2|3 world launches
1|2|3 World suite of products was launched – revolutionising UK banking by introducing cashback on household bills with the current account – embodying our vision of Simple, Personal and Fair banking for all
2011
Santander X awards
The flagship entrepreneurship pitching competition, Santander X UK awards launches, to help entrepreneurs accelerate their business growth - with more than£1.2 million in equity free funding since launch
2011
Breakthrough business banking
To show we mean business, and to be the “Bank of choice” for UK companies, the Breakthrough programme was launched – bringing together the scale and expertise from across Santander to support high-growth SMEs
2010
Abbey, Alliance & Leicester and Bradford & Bingley rebranded as Santander UK
Cahoot, becomes part of Santander UK but continues to operate as a separate, internet only brand. Cater Allen Private Bank remains a separate, wholly owned, subsidiary of Santander
2009
Alliance & Leicester acquisition
Alliance & Leicester plc transferred to Santander UK plc (acquired by Banco Santander, S.A. in 2008)
2008
Bradford & Bingley acquisition
Bradford & Bingley savings business and branches acquired by Santander UK plc
2004
Abbey National acquisition
Abbey National plc, and it’s associated brands Cater Allen and cahoot acquired by Banco Santander, SA
1992 - 2002
Building Santander UK
Multiple acquisitions take place with the expansion of Abbey National into other areas of banking, with brands acquired including Scottish Mutual, Cater Allen, Lombard and Scottish Provident, alongside the merger with National and Provincial Building Society and the launch of cahoot, an online-only bank in 2000
1989
After banking laws were changed in mid-80s, Abbey National became the first building society in the UK to demutualise, with listing on the London Stock Exchange completed in 1989
1944
Abbey National Building Society formed with the merger of two building societies; Abbey Road Building Society and National Building Society
1874
Abbey Road & St. John's Wood Permanent Benefit Building Society established to use savings of members to provide mortgages for building their own homes
1849
National Freehold Land and Building Society established aimed at securing voting rights by selling shares and using proceeds to buy land on the outskirts of London
