Santander has today announced plans to update its UK branch network from June 2025, with seven branches set to be closed in Northern Ireland.
The bank says the move is “to better serve the changing needs of its customers.” Overall, 95 of the bank’s existing 444 branches in the UK will be closed.
Santander highlights It has invested tens of millions of pounds in a branch investment programme over the last two years, refurbishing 99 branches, with a further 50 branches due to be completed over the coming year. The newly refurbished branches include a digital self-serve room providing customers with privacy as well as the space to talk to specific teams, and access online banking.
The bank states it also continues to enhance its mobile banking app, chat service and telephone banking, to support customers. This includes further development of its new mobile banking app launched in 2024, which won a Digital Banker Award for Financial Inclusion in October, as well as investment in innovative digital support, such as the bank’s My Home Manager app.
The bank has seen a rapid movement of customers choosing to do their banking digitally, with a 63% increase in digital transactions since 2019, while financial transactions completed in branches reduced by 61% in the same period. In addition, since 2019, the bank has seen:
82% of current accounts opened digitally
56% increase in mobile banking users
89% increase in mobile banking app transactions
73% increase in mobile logins (up to 1.9bn)
Santander Northern Ireland branch closures:
• Armagh - 01 July 2025
• Downpatrick - 06 August 2025
• Dungannon - 23 June 2025
• Magherafelt - 24 June 2025
• Portadown - 30 June 2025
• Strabane - 23 July 2025
• Larne - date to be announced
A spokesperson for Santander UK, 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.
“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. However, we believe that the introduction of our new Community Bankers and the exciting plans we have for our remaining network of 349 branches and Work Cafés, alongside the rapid and innovative improvements to our award-winning mobile banking app, will provide the right balance of digital banking and human interaction when required.”
Following the changes, 93% of the UK population will continue to be within 10 miles of a Santander branch. All Santander current and business account holders can also bank using one of over 11,000 Post Office branches nationwide and 112 Banking Hubs. Closing branches are all within one mile of the nearest Post Office.
To support the changes, Santander will be proactively contacting all potentially vulnerable customers by phone and will assist those customers of closing branches to find other ways to bank that best suit their needs, including help to find alternative branches and access digital, telephone and Post Office banking services.
A dedicated phone number is available to provide customers with help and information on the closures (0330 678 2469).
Santander also remains committed to Cash Access UK and is present in the Banking Hubs across the UK, contributing towards the setting up and expansion of new Banking Hubs.
Approximately 750 colleagues would be placed at risk of redundancy if the proposals proceed after consultation with the unions has been completed. Support will be provided to those impacted colleagues, including assistance in finding redeployment roles within the bank, access to specialist outplacement support, and dedicated wellbeing support. A 24-hour Employee Assistance Helpline is also available for colleagues.