Santander customers to lose bank service at some branches in days in major blow

Scores of Santander customers across the country are set to be deprived of a major service within days. Since March, the banking giant has pressed on with a massive programme of branch closures and reduced opening hours in some of its high street outlets.

From August 4, certain branches will lose their in-person counters, with customers instead being directed by staff – who will still be present in person – to use ATMs and paying-in machines to carry out everyday transactions. The changes are most likely to affect those who deposit or withdraw coins or large sums of cash at these branches.

The removal of the counters will also impact small businesses, who use in-person facilities to deposit their cash earnings at the end of each day. In the past seven weeks, 13 branches have already scrapped their counters and five more will follow suit in the next two weeks.

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On August 4, the Santander branches in Gravesend and Liverpool (Allerton Road) will go counter-free, followed by those in Camberley, Orpington and Rotherham a week later on August 11. Affected customers who want to deposit coins and large amounts of cash are advised to use their local Post Office.

In addition to the 95 branch closures announced in the spring, the bank also slashed the opening hours of 36 outlets – many of which are now open only three days a week. It is also putting money into its hybrid banking and co-working spaces known as "Work Cafes".

Santander said that the changes are being made as more people are turning to digital banking services and it is investing heavily in improving their online and telephone banking services. It claimed that since 2019, there was a 63 per increase in people carrying out digital transactions, while 82 per cent of customers opened up a new account online.

In a statement, the bank said: "As customer behaviour changes, we are ensuring that our branches remain fit for the future. Our new combination of full-service branches, alongside Work Cafés, counter-free branches and reduced hours branches, aims to provide the right balance between digital banking and face-to-face money management and guidance.

"As a business, we must move with customers and balance our investment across all the places where we interact with customers, to deliver the very best for them now and in the future."

Santander also said that following the changes, 93 per cent of the public will be within 10 miles of a Santander branch. It also told current and business account holders they can also bank using one of more than 11,000 Post Office branches nationwide, while closing branches are all within one mile of the nearest Post Office.

Post Office branches allow everyday banking transactions to be carried out. People can deposit a maximum of £10,000 each day, with a rolling annual limit of £240,000.

Cash withdrawal charges

Charges apply to withdrawing money from their counters, depending on the amount. People can take out up to £10,000, providing the Post Office has enough cash available and in some cases they will need to contact Santander before they take money out. Generally, customers can take out up to £500 for free, while the following charges apply:

• Up to £500 – Free
• £500.01 to £2,000 – £10 flat fee
• £2,000.01 to £3,000 – 50p per £100
• £3,000.01 to £5,000 – 45p per £100
• Over £5,000 – 35p per £100

Branches to close

Over the next two weeks, the following branches will close, with Farnham and Hertford shutting up shop for good today (July 29):

• July 29: Farnham; Hertford
• July 30: Ross-on-Wye; St Neots
• July 31: Stokesley
• August 4: Wimborne
• August 5: Blyth; Canvey Island; Rustington
• August 6: Downpatrick; London Finchley; Whitley Bay
• August 11: Formby; London Brixton; London Sidcup
  
• August 12: London Edgware Road