SPANISH bank Santander announced today that it will close 95 branches across Britain, putting 750 jobs at risk.

The banking giant revealed that the closures, which account for nearly a fifth of its 444 locations, will begin in June.

It is also set to cut hours across another 36 sites, most of which will be open just three days a week, and switch 18 branches to become counter-free. 

Santander said it will be left with 349 branches after the overhaul, of which there will be 290 full-service sites.

The changes will put about 750 jobs at risk if the plans go ahead after consultations with unions, Santander said.

Jim Leonard, general secretary of Advance union, the largest union operating within Santander, called the cuts “incredibly disappointing, not only in the scale of the closures but also the very minimal number of redeployment opportunities.”

The union said it will continue to work with its members and Santander to help as many staff as possible be redeployed.

Santander cited customers shifting to online banking as one of the reasons for the change, adding that there has been a 63 per cent increase in digital transactions since 2019. 

A Santander UK spokesman said: “Our new combination of full-service branches, alongside work cafes, counter-free branches and reduced hours branches, aims to provide the right balance between digital banking and face-to-face money management and guidance.

“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.”