Huge banking giant to slash opening hours in HALF at 36 high street branches within days

The Sun

6 days ago

A HUGE banking giant is about to cut opening hours in half at 36 branches within days.
Santander is set to change the opening hours of dozens of its branches from June 30.
This move comes as part of a broader restructuring, which also includes the closure of 95 branches and the conversion of 18 to "counter-free" service desks.
Currently, most of these branches are open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 3pm, with many also open Saturday mornings from 9.30am to 12.30pm.
Going forward, these branches will be open only three days a week.
Of the affected locations, 21 branches will adopt a Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday timetable.
These include branches in Bicester, Braintree, Durham, and Stevenage.
This means that, from June 30, these branches will open just three days a week - instead of six.
An additional 14 branches will adopt a Monday, Wednesday, and Friday timetable, opening from 9.30am to 3pm on these days.
Branches affected by this change include Banbury, Great Yarmouth, Newark, and Washington.
Meanwhile, the final branch on the list, located in Caerphilly, will see its hours cut further, from every week day to just Tuesdays and Thursdays, with opening hours from 9.30am to 3pm.
Our map above reveals exactly which branches are reducing their hours and which days they'll be open from the end of June.
Inside the hubs restoring high street banking and reversing the tide of mass branch closures
The bank says the changes are due to changing customer behaviour and a significant increase in digital transactions.
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."
The bank, which serves over 14million UK customers, announced in March that it plans to close 95 branches across the UK.
Following the shake-up, just 349 branches will remain on the high street.
What you can do if your local bank is set to close
There are still a number of ways people can access basic banking services without having to venture to another town with a branch.
You can use one of the Post Office's 11,684 branches to perform basic banking tasks — but not to open new bank accounts or take personal loans and mortgages.
You can find your nearest Post Office branch by visiting postoffice.co.uk/branch-finder.
Meanwhile, many banks offer a mobile banking service - where they bring a bus to your area offering services you can usually get at a physical branch.
Other banks use buildings such as village halls or libraries to offer mobile banking services.
It's worth contacting your bank to see what mobile services they have available, and when they might next be in your area.
New super ATMs are being rolled out across the UK where branch closures have left residents unable to access essential banking services.
These ATMs will allow customers to withdraw funds, access their balance, change PIN numbers and deposit cash.
Bank of Scotland, Barclays, Halifax, Lloyds, NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank are already signed up to allow deposits, at the super ATMs.
Banking hubs are also being opened across the UK with 250 set to be available by the end of 2025.
These sites typically feature a counter service operated by the Post Office as standard, enabling customers to conduct routine banking transactions conveniently.
Each hub also has a private area where customers can consult with staff representing their banks for more complex matters.
What services do banking hubs offer?
BANKING hubs offer a range of services to bridge the gap left by the closure of local branches.
Operated by the Post Office, these hubs allow customers to perform routine transactions such as deposits, withdrawals, and balance enquiries.
Each hub also features private booths where customers can discuss more complex banking matters with staff from their respective banks.
Staff from different banks are available on a rotational basis, ensuring that customers have access to a wide range of banking services throughout the week.
Additionally, customers can receive advice and support on various financial products and services, including loans, mortgages, and savings accounts.