Abbey and B&B savings will be rebranded from the first quarter of 2010 and A&L will follow later in the year, as IT changes ensure any Santander customer in the UK can transact in all its UK branches.
The move will mean customers will be able to use 1,000 branches from early 2010, rising to 1,300 by the end of 2010.
António Horta-Osório, chief executive of Santander’s UK Businesses, said:
“We know from speaking to our customers that they value and appreciate the strength and financial security that being part of a world-class global bank offers particularly in the new global banking environment.
“Bringing together the three brands means it will be even easier for customers to manage their finances as they will have access to over 1,300 branches once the change is complete. With this in mind the time is right to make the move to a single UK identity as Santander, a powerful new force in the UK banking.
“Since Santander acquired Abbey in November 2004, we have set about transforming the business to reflect Santander’s business model and values. The Group’s focus on retail banking means we have been able to improve Abbey’s efficiency, allowing us to introduce better value-for-money products for our customers and invest in our front-line services.
“Our prudent approach and focus on branch-based banking enabled us to acquire the A&L and B&B savings business in 2008, despite unprecedented market turmoil. Since then, we’ve applied the same principles to both, improving the products and services we offer as well as the business performance of each bank.”
The switch will mean that 25 million customers will be able to transact seamlessly across Santander’s UK branch network, whether they were with Abbey, A&L or B&B, providing as it does a single customer view that is unique in UK banking and will allow Santander to offer the full range of its products across its enlarged UK network.
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