A major UK bank is closing several branches on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, as part of a nationwide restructuring plan. Santander will be shutting a handful of branches tomorrow, which have each been on the high street for multiple years.
Due to a shake-up driven by a shift towards digital banking, six specific locations will close on Wednesday, with more to follow for the rest of the month. The bank says affected customers will be supported by new “Santander Local” community bankers.
A spokesperson for Santander said: “In response to a continuing and sizeable shift towards customers using digital banking, we are making changes to our branches to better support our customers.
“We will continue to invest in both our branch network – comprising of full-service branches, counter-free branches, reduced-hour branches, Santander Locals, and our increasingly popular work cafes – as well as our digital banking services, so we can be there to support our customers however they choose to bank with us.”
The closures of numerous Santander branches will happen in phases, starting from April 2026. For anyone who prefers to bank with Santander in person, there will still be ways to do this after these branches close. The bank says: “We’ll have a Santander Local (supported by one of our Community Bankers) in some local areas. These will be in places such as libraries and community halls, where one day per week we’ll be able to help you with your banking.”
In January 2010, Santander UK changed its name from Abbey National after the Santander Group bought the bank in November 2004. This change, along with the rebranding of the Alliance and Leicester and Bradford and Bingley branches, created one unified Santander brand in about 1,300 branches across the UK.
What are the six Santander branches closing May 6, 2026?
- Glengormley: County Antrim.
- Leyland: Lancashire.
- Mansfield: Nottinghamshire.
- Merthyr Tydfil: Mid Glamorgan.
- Northallerton: North Yorkshire.
In a leaflet provided by Santander, titled: “Understanding why your branch is closing”, the bank explained: “We last did a major review of our branches in 2024. Since then, our customers are choosing to use Mobile, Online and Telephone Banking more, and branches less. We’ve now done a more recent review of our branches, looking at where they’re located, how they’re used and the other local banking options available.
“Within our review, we looked at how the branch is being used and how customers are banking in other ways. We’re aware of the impact of this decision, and will be here for you in person until this branch closes. We can offer support and answer any questions, so that you can make an informed decision on alternative ways to bank.”
What Santander branches are closing in May?
Santander is closing multiple branches across the UK this month. Below is a full list of all the stores that will be affected over the coming weeks.
- Andover, Hampshire – May 12
- Banbridge, County Down – May 19
- Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan – May 12
- Cwmbran, Gwent – May 13
- Enniskillen, County Fermanagh – May 12
- Glengormley, County Antrim – May 6
- Golders Green, London – May 13
- Gosport, Hampshire – May 5
- Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire – May 5
- Heswall, Merseyside – May 13
- Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire – May 5
- Leyland, Lancashire – May 6
- Liskeard, Cornwall – May 20
- Macclesfield, Cheshire – May 12
- Mansfield, Nottinghamshire – May 6
- Merthyr Tydfil, Mid Glamorgan – May 6
- Newton Abbot, Devon – May 19
- Northallerton, North Yorkshire – May 6
- Pontefract, West Yorkshire – May 5
- Redditch, Worcestershire – May 13
- Ringwood, Hampshire – May 6
- Shirley, West Midlands – May 20
- Stafford, Staffordshire – May 19
- Stranraer, Wigtownshire – May 13
- Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire – May 12
- Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire – May 5
You can find the full list of branches closing on the Santander website. If you have any questions, or need Santander’s help, call its helpline on 0330 678 2469. Lines are open Monday to Sunday 8am-6pm. You can also call this number to book a branch appointment or register for mobile, online and telephone banking.
