The two Scottish locations include the Kirkintilloch branch in East Dunbartonshire, set to shut on 29 April, and the Stranraer site in Dumfries and Galloway scheduled for closure on 13 May.

The Spanish-owned lender attributes this decision to a dramatic shift in consumer behaviour, noting that 96% of all transactions are now conducted via digital channels.

This move follows a significant restructuring last year that saw 95 branches close and approximately 750 staff affected. UK Chief Executive Mike Regnier previously signalled that further redundancies were likely as the bank continues to streamline its operations. Upon completion of this latest round of cuts, Santander will maintain a network of 244 full branches.

To mitigate the impact on local communities, the bank intends to deploy “community bankers” who will operate from specialised banking hubs or Santander Local stores, ensuring some level of face-to-face support remains available despite the diminishing high street footprint.