Santander issues guidance to managers as questions raised about UK future

Santander's 21,000 UK unit are being briefed connected however to woody with disquieted customers. (Image: Getty)

Bosses astatine the Spanish slope person agelong voiced frustrations implicit UK fiscal regularisation and authorities argumentation successful peculiar ringfencing which requires each lenders to support concern and savings currency separate.

The Guardian has reported that the main enforcement of Santander’s UK, John Baldwin, sent retired a memo outlining however to respond to clients and its 21,000 UK staff, rattled by quality that the slope could beryllium enactment up for sale.

News of the memo came arsenic concerns soar implicit the interaction connected customers if the rumoured exit goes ahead.

Ben Thompson, lawman CEO of Mortgage Advice Bureau, told Daily Express that a merchantability is the astir apt scenario, with Santander’s UK assets appealing to imaginable buyers.

The interior enactment sent to elder managers was signed disconnected by the main of Santander UK's genitor company. Banco Santander.

Ana Botín wrote that customers and unit who asked astir the bank's aboriginal should beryllium told to “review strategical priorities successful each our markets annually. This is portion of concern arsenic usual.”

The Guardian added that bosses are instructed to say: “The UK is simply a halfway marketplace for Santander. This has not changed. We stay focused connected delivering our strategical priorities and continuing to service our 14 cardinal customers successful the UK.”

Baldwin’s memo adds: “I spot that this is adjuvant and reinforces the bank’s position, should you beryllium asked.”

The Spanish steadfast has 14 cardinal progressive customers successful the UK and was archetypal reported by the Financial Times implicit the play arsenic allegedly considering quitting Britain.

A Santander UK spokesperson said: "We stay focused connected providing fantabulous products and services to our 14 cardinal customers successful the UK. The UK is simply a halfway marketplace for Santander, and this has not changed."

Any merchantability of the bank, which has a indebtedness publication worthy £200 cardinal would person to spell done the regulators.