Bank giant to close County Durham branch as part of 44 closures in 2026

The chain will close the doors of its Bishop Auckland bank on May 5 as part of its plans to shut down 44 of its branches this year. The Spain-based banking giant said the closures are part of an overhaul of its store network linked to a shift from its customers moving towards digital services. It said 291 workers are at risk of redundancy as a result. Alongside the closure in Bishop Auckland, Berwick-upon-Tweed's branch will close on April 28, and Northallerton in North Yorkshire will have its branch closed on May 6. The full list of Santander closures in the UK 2026:– Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland – April 28– Boston, Lincolnshire – April 28– Evesham, Worcestershire – April 28– Mold, Clwyd – April 28– Ramsgate, Kent – April 28– Woking, Surrey – April 28– Bangor, County Down – April 29– Bridgwater, Somerset – April 29– Kirkintilloch, Lanarkshire – April 29– Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire – April 29– Newbury, Berkshire – April 29– Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire – April 29– Tonbridge, Kent – April 29– Bishop Auckland, County Durham – May 5– Gosport, Hampshire – May 5– Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire – May 5– Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire – May 5– Pontefract, West Yorkshire – May 5– Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire – May 5– Glengormley, County Antrim – May 6– Leyland, Lancashire – May 6– Mansfield, Nottinghamshire – May 6– Merthyr Tydfil, Mid Glamorgan – May 6– Northallerton, North Yorkshire – May 6– Ringwood, Hampshire – May 6– Andover, Hampshire – May 12– Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan – May 12– Enniskillen, County Fermanagh – May 12– Macclesfield, Cheshire – May 12– Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire – May 12– Cwmbran, Gwent – May 13– Golders Green, London – May 13– Heswall, Merseyside – May 13– Redditch, Worcestershire – May 13– Stranraer, Wigtownshire – May 13– Newton Abbot, Devon – May 19– Stafford, Staffordshire – May 19– Banbridge, County Down – May 19– Liskeard, Cornwall – May 20– Shirley, West Midlands – May 20