Seven Santander branches in Wales are set to close and one will lose counter services as the Spanish-owned banking giant cuts costs. The bank has announced plans to close 95 high street branches across the UK.
The closures will affect around a fifth of the bank's UK branches while many others will see hours and services cut. Some 750 employees are now at risk of losing their jobs.
Describing the closures as a "difficult decision", the bank said its customers were increasingly using online services. It follows a similar announcement by Lloyds in January.
A Santander spokesperson said: "Closing a branch is always a very difficult decision and we spend a great deal of time assessing where and when we do this and how to minimise the impact it may have on our customers,"
As well as the closures, 36 branches across the UK will operate with reduced hours, 18 will become counter-free, one of which is in Wales, and five will be transformed into Work Cafes.
Caerphilly is set to have reduced hours and open on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9.30am and 3pm. These changes will take effect from June 30.
Areas impacted by branch closures will be catered to by "community bankers" offering "face-to-face money management and general support for customers, visiting local communities weekly, as well as attending local Banking Hubs".
A phone line has been put in place to help customers. For further information, you can contact 0330 678 2469.
Full list of known closures and dates in Wales
- Aberdare - 24 June
- Blackwood - 23 June
- Brecon - 25 June
- Caernarfon - 7 July
- Colwyn Bay - 24 July
- Holywell - 13 August
- Holyhead - date to be announced
Counter-free branch (effective dates):
- Neath, 23 June
