Santander to close Stafford branch on 19 May 2026

Santander UK has confirmed that its Stafford branch at 1 Market Square will close on 19 May 2026, as part of a national programme to shut 44 branches across the UK.

The decision reflects long-term changes in how people use banking services, with digital channels now handling around 96% of all transactions according to Santander - a trend that has grown rapidly in recent years.

Santander in Stafford

What’s changing and why

Santander says it is reshaping its branch network “to better serve the changing needs of its customers,” with the closures tied to a significant shift towards online and mobile banking. The bank reports that:

• Digital transactions have risen by 64% since 2019, while transactions in branches are down 66% in the same period.

• Around 83% of current accounts are now opened digitally, and use of mobile banking continues to grow.

The result of this shift is that many branches - including Stafford’s - are less used than in years past, prompting Santander to reallocate resources towards services customers increasingly prefer.

Stafford in context: what remains locally

Once the Stafford branch closes in May 2026:

• The nearest full-service Santander branch will be in Hanley (Stoke-on-Trent)

• Santander customers will still have access to shared banking hubs in Stone and Rugeley that offer counter services and transactions for multiple banks

• Other banks still operating full branches in Stafford include The Stafford Railway Building Society, Barclays Bank, Lloyds Bank, HSBC UK and The Co-operative Bank.

Support options after closures

To help maintain face-to-face support in communities where branches are closing, Santander says the 44 closures will be replaced by a blend of alternative services:

• Community Bankers - trained staff who provide ongoing face-to-face support in local areas, often on a weekly schedule at Santander Locals or banking hubs.

• Santander Locals - community-focused outlets located in spaces like libraries or community centres that are staffed by Community Bankers to provide money management and general support.

• Shared Banking Hubs and Post Office services - customers can still carry out key transactions like cash withdrawals and deposits via the Post Office network and multi-bank hubs. Santander says all closing branches are within 1.4 miles of a Post Office.

The bank also highlights continued investment in its wider branch network, with 305 locations expected to remain open following the closures, including a mix of full-service, reduced-hour and counter-free branches, plus Work Cafés designed to combine banking with community and flexible working spaces.

Staff impact and customer support

Santander says approximately 291 colleagues will be at risk of redundancy following the closures after consultations with unions, but that redeployment opportunities will be available and employees will be offered specialist support, wellbeing resources and job transition assistance.

The bank also says it will contact potentially vulnerable customers directly by phone to help them find alternative ways to bank, such as digital services, telephone banking, or visits to Post Offices and nearby branches. A dedicated helpline has been set up to assist customers through the transition.