SPANISH banking giant Santander is dropping the Abbey UK Corporate Banking and Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank brands, as it pushes ahead with its assimilation of the UK lenders.<br /><br />The banks’ 20 regional corporate banking centres yesterday began converting to the Santander Corporate Banking name.<br /><br />Santander head of corporate banking Steve Pateman said he wants the combined Corporate Banking brand to become the “bank of choice for businesses” in the UK.<br /><br />He said the combination of Santander’s strong capital position, Abbey’s specialist knowledge and the reach of Alliance & Leicester’s regional corporate banking centres should provide a “compelling” offering.