Santander bank will close more than 100 braches across its UK network, affecting around 5,000 staff, it confirmed this morning.
It will close its Bootle, Newcastle, London Portman House and Manchester Deansgate offices by the end of 2021.
The high street bank said it will shut 111 branches.
The 5,000 staff affected will be offered new working arrangements combining working from home with “access to local collaboration spaces”.
Santander justified the closures as a reflection of changing consumer habits accelerated by the Covid pandemic lockdowns.
“Branch transactions fell by 33 per cent over the two years before the pandemic and declined by a
further 50 per cent in 2020. Mobile and online transactions have meanwhile been growing by 20 per cent each year, with almost two thirds of overall transactions now digital,” it said this morning.
Nathan Bostock, Santander UK CEO, said: “The pandemic has accelerated the existing trend towards greater flexible working, and our colleagues have told us this has brought significant benefits for many of them.
“At the same time, physical spaces remain very important and our sites around the UK will provide our colleagues with first-class facilities fit for the future.”
Branches to close across Greater Manchester
Cheadle – 16 High Street, Cheadle SK8 1AJ – 8 July 2021
Chorlton-cum-Hardy – 575 Wilbraham Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy M21 9AB – 8 July 2021
Hyde Market Place – 11 Market Place, Hyde SK14 2NP 15 July 2021
Sale – 46 School Road, Sale M33 7XE 22 July 2021
Swinton – 143 Chorley Road, Swinton M27 4AE 1 July 2021
Walkden – 33 Bolton Road, Walkden M28 3AX 24 June 2021
