Natwest top pick to acquire TSB June 17, 2025 British banking juggernaut Natwest Group has been pegged as the “most likely acquirer” of TSB Bank. Natwest returned to private ownership last month, ending a nearly two-decade-long banking saga and setting the lender up for a deals spree. The bank has purchased over £5bn worth of shares from the Treasury as part of its directed buyback [...]
Forget the EU, UK businesses want to trade with China May 23, 2025 From UK businesses shifting trade to China, the message is clear: growth matters more than geopolitics, writes Jane Galvin.
One in four Brits cling to bank branches as closures soar May 20, 2025 Brits remain keen for in-person banking even as high-street sites shutter, a fresh report from the Financial Conduct Authority has revealed. One in four current account users still opted to use branch services in the year to May 2024 despite their waning availability. The figure marks a steep drop from 63 per cent in 2017, [...]
Santander UK’s provisions surge after branch closure backlash April 30, 2025 Santander UK was struck with a surge in provisions in its first-quarter report as backlash mounted to its branch closure operation. The Spanish-headquartered lender’s provisions for liabilities and charges rose 69 per cent to £140m. The firm said £42m of this was driven by “charges relating to changes to our branch network”. This comes as [...]
Santander becomes first major lender to loosen mortgage rules March 28, 2025 Santander has become the first major UK lender to relax its mortgage rules following a nudge from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Homebuyers could be able to borrow an extra £35,000 on a mortgage under the changed rules. The UK’s fourth-largest mortgage lender will reduce rates on borrower’s stress tests, which are used to check [...]
Santander to shut 95 branches – putting 750 jobs at risk March 19, 2025 Santander announced a flurry of branch closures on Wednesday, which will place up to 750 employees at risk of redundancy. The bank, which is one of the UK’s most prominent mortgage lenders, will close 95 of its 444 branches as part of a structural overhaul that will begin in June 2025. Its updated branches network [...]
Santander announces new buyback as profit jumps February 5, 2025 Spanish banking giant Santander has today reported a bumper set of numbers for 2024 thanks to higher income from its retail banking business and lower costs. For the year, the group reported a profit of €12.5bn (£10.4bn), up 14 per cent and revenue growth of eight per cent to €62.2bn. The group’s return on tangible [...]
Crafter’s Companion: Huge debts revealed at firm rescued by Dragons’ Den star Sara Davies January 23, 2025 Crafter’s Companion, the company started by Dragons’ Den star Sara Davies while at university, owed almost £20m when it collapsed into administration earlier this month before being rescued, it has been revealed. The company appointed Interpath to oversee the process on 7 January in a move which has led to its Barlborough store closing and [...]
Santander UK sets aside £295m for motor finance payout November 20, 2024 Santander UK has set aside £295m in its quarterly results to pay out to motor finance customers following a landmark court ruling on the topic last month. The bank had previously delayed its third-quarter results thanks to the high court ruling, which it said had left it unable to calculate the potential cost of the [...]
Santander UK profit slides as analysts forecast £1.8bn motor finance hit October 29, 2024 Santander has revealed a sharp fall in its UK profit during the third quarter, while delaying the publication of more detailed figures as it digests a landmark motor finance court ruling in London.