Confusion over closure of 18 Santander branches after it revealed plans to shut 95 sites for good

SANTANDER has issued an update after announcing the mass closure of almost 100 branches in a major blow to the UK high street.

Under the shake up, 95 of the bank's 444 locations will close for good and will be replaced by new Banking hubs, counter-free locations, and work cafes.

The changes that will be rolled out this year will also see 36 branches have their opening hours slashed in half to just three days a week.

As worried customers check the full list of branches set to shutter to see if they will be impacted, Santander has said that the dates of 18 of the 95 closures are still to be confirmed.

Santander told Flying Eze that the final dates have not been announced as these will be where the new Cash Access UK Banking Hubs will be implemented.

These new facilities will have to be in place before the branches close.

“Based on LINK’s assessment and subsequent recommendations, 18 Banking Hubs have been announced as a result of our announcement,” a spokesperson confirmed.

“As such, we will not close the 18 branches in these areas until Cash Access UK have confirmed the date that the Banking Hub will open.

“We will notify customers in advance of the closure taking place”.

Banking Hubs operated by the Post Office are run by Cash Access UK and offer face-to-face cash and banking services available to all, regardless of who they bank with.

For those who wish to speak to a representative from their own bank about an issue, there will be days where employees from each of the major banks will be in attendance to help with more complex issues.

After the overhaul there will be around 349 sites left on the high street.

Of these locations, 36 branches will have reduced hours, 18 will be counter-free, and five will be work cafes.

The latter is a relatively new concept that brings together a free co-working area, cafe and banking services.

A spokesperson for Santander cited “changing customer behaviour” for the slew of closures as customers turn to smart devices to manage their finances, rendering physical branches obsolete.

They said: “Closing a branch is always a very difficult decision, and we spend a great deal of time assessing where and when we do this and how to minimise the impact it may have on our customers.”

MONEY EXPERTS REACT

But the latest blow to the high street has money experts concerned for older and more vulnerable generations, especially as risk of cyber crime increases.

Alastair Douglas, CEO of TotallyMoney said: “In less than a decade, more than 6,000 banks have closed, leaving 33 constituencies without a branch.

“And while digital banking is increasingly becoming the norm, the real concern is for the elderly and vulnerable as they’ll be less likely to have the experience and understanding to access online services and apps.”

The CEO advised customers who are at risk of losing their local branch to consider changing banks and that they could even be financially rewarded for it.

“If you’re reliant on your local bank branch, and they’re threatening to close it, then it’s worth looking at your options, and finding a high street provider that better suits your needs,” he said.

“Some banks are now paying up to £175 for you to move your money.

“And with the Current Account Switch Service Guarantee, your payments and balance will be moved over automatically, and your old account will be closed for you.”

Meanwhile, Aaron Peake, Personal Finance Expert at CredAbility, echoed concerns about the elderly saying, “the rapid shift to digital banking is leaving a generation behind.”

“While online services offer convenience, millions of older Brits still prefer face-to-face banking,” he said.

“Closing branches takes away their financial independence, forcing many to rely on others to manage their finances.”

Siobhan Blagbrough, Financial Crime Manager at Ocean Finance, added that the move to online banking, especially for older generations is “concerning” due to the lack of fraud protection.

“In the past year alone, 77,600 older Brits fell victim to cyber crime or fraud. Forcing people online without the right support only increases their risk of scams,” she said.

“If you’re switching to online banking for the first time, it’s essential to take steps to protect yourself.

“Use strong, unique passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and never share your details over the phone or email.”

What to do if your local bank is set to close

If you still need to access basic banking services, you won't necessarily have to venture to another town.

You can use the Post Office to perform many basic banking tasks, although you won't be able to open new bank accounts or take out personal loans or mortgages.

You can find your nearest Post Office branch by visiting postoffice.co.uk/branch-finder.

Many banks also offer a mobile banking service, where they bring a bus to your area offering services you can usually get at a physical branch.

You may also be able to find mobile banking services in buildings such as village halls or libraries.

It's worth contacting your bank to see what mobile services they have available, and when they might next be in your area.

There are also new super ATMs being rolled out in areas where branch closures have left residents unable to access essential banking services.

These ATMs allow customers to withdraw funds, access their balance, change PIN numbers and deposit cash.

You could also look out for banking hubs, which are similar to traditional bank branches but are available to everyone.

LINK, which helps people access cash services, has said 19 new locations can now expect to see banking hubs open on their local high street in the future as a result of the closures.