Santander Axes Seven Welsh Branches in UK-Wide Cutbacks

Spanish-owned banking giant Santander has announced plans to close seven branches across Wales and remove counter services from another as part of a wider UK cost-cutting strategy that will see 95 high street branches shuttered nationwide. 📉

The closures will impact approximately one-fifth of the bank’s UK branches, with many others facing reduced hours and services. Around 750 employees are at risk of redundancy as a result of these changes.

A Santander spokesperson stated: “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.”

The bank attributed the decision to customers’ increasing preference for online banking services. This move follows a similar announcement made by Lloyds in January.

In addition to the closures, 36 branches across the UK will operate with reduced hours, while 18 will become counter-free—including one in Wales. Five branches will be transformed into Work Cafes.

Caerphilly’s branch will see reduced operating hours, opening only on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9.30am and 3pm starting June 30.

The bank has promised that areas affected by closures will be served by “community bankers” who will offer “face-to-face money management and general support for customers, visiting local communities weekly, as well as attending local Banking Hubs.”

Customers seeking additional information can contact a dedicated helpline at 0330 678 2469.

Full list of known closures and dates in Wales: