Yet more bank closures for Scottish towns
Santander is closing more than 1 in 5 branches
Last updated 20th Mar 2025
Santander will be closing 10 branches across Scotland as cuts more than 1 in 5 of its high street bases around the UK.
Around 750 jobs are at risk of redundancy as the Spanish firm confirms 95 locations which will be closed down.
The changes will put more than 4% of its 18,000 UK workforce at risk of redundancy.
It comes in response to customers increasingly switching to online banking, with a 63% surge in digital transactions since 2019 while branch transactions have slumped by 61% in that time, according to the firm.
Which branches are closing?
The Scottish sites selected are:
Arbroath
Cumbernauld
Glasgow, St Vincent Street
Hawick
Musselburgh
Newton Mearns
Peterhead
Saltcoats
Turriff
Wishaw
Move to online
A Santander UK spokesman 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 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."
He added: "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."
Jenny Ross, money editor at consumer group Which?, warned Santander's branch closures will "come as a real blow to many customers".
She said: "Schemes introduced by the banking industry to protect these services, such as banking hubs, are a good start in plugging gaps left by closing physical branches, but they must be rolled out much more quickly if consumers are to feel their benefits.
"The government must hold banks' feet to the fire to ensure the commitments they've made to set up 350 hubs by 2029 are met - and should be prepared to review the target upwards if necessary."
Rayo Premium