Santander UK pledges to keep all branches open until 2028

Santander UK has pledged to keep all its bank branches, including those of recently acquired rival TSB, open until at least 2028. The announcement, made by Chief Executive Mahesh Aditya on July 22, 2026, commits the bank to maintaining its combined network of 305 Santander and 175 TSB branches across the UK for the next 18 months.

The commitment follows a wave of 44 branch closures already announced for 2026, a move that puts 291 jobs at risk. Aditya stated that branches remain an important part of the bank's strategy to combine digital services with personal support for customers. The pledge aligns with similar moves in the industry, such as Nationwide Building Society's promise to keep branches open until 2030, amid political criticism that widespread closures restrict access to cash for elderly and vulnerable people.

The branch announcement accompanied the release of Santander's half-year financial results, which showed a 31 percent fall in pre-tax profits to 528 million pounds for the six months ending June 30. The profit slump was attributed to several significant charges. The bank set aside an extra 179 million pounds to cover costs related to the ongoing motor finance...