Santander seals 318 RBS branch deal

clock

RBS is set to announce the sale of 318 branches to Spain's Santander as the UK lender offloads the former Williams & Glyn's network.

Santander beat off rivals, including National Australia Bank, in a bid to extend its reach on the high street for an estimated £2bn, according to The Telegraph. Several thousand staff currently employed by RBS will be affected by the sale, although the final branch network organisation is yet to be announced. The European Commission forced the sale on RBS before it would approve aid for the bank, which was part of the UK Government's billion pound rescue package. Following the deal, Santander will have over 1,600 branches in the UK, making it the fourth biggest network in the coun...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Your profession

Friday Night Takeaway: It's the return of the banks

Friday Night Takeaway: It's the return of the banks

The news editor's Friday Night Takeaway from 10 July

Isabel Baxter
clock 10 July 2026 • 3 min read
Carla Brown on PFS/CII relationship reset and how chartered status is 'essential'

Carla Brown on PFS/CII relationship reset and how chartered status is 'essential'

PFS president and chair joins Professional Adviser in the studio

Professional Adviser
clock 10 July 2026 • 1 min read
FCA spotlights vulnerability in latest Consumer Duty review

FCA spotlights vulnerability in latest Consumer Duty review

Treatment of vulnerable clients still an area of improvement for firms

Sophia Panayi
clock 10 July 2026 • 2 min read