Santander – a new way of banking

Putting customer relationships first

The economic landscape has shifted and the challenges faced by UK businesses today call for a new kind of bank - one that puts customer relationships at its heart.

Santander is fully committed, with the right product solutions and expertise, to supporting all UK businesses, from start-ups to corporates. We are developing a new way of banking that recognises the value of working closely with each customer, delivering unique, creative solutions that take their business forward.

Our dedication and commitment is demonstrated as follows:

• We recognise that our own growth depends on that of our customers; in 2009, our lending to the Small and Medium sized Enterprise (SME) market increased by 20% and we aim to build on this as the economy recovers
• In 2009 we helped 80,000 customers start new businesses or expand existing businesses, offering unlimited fee-free banking for customers with a turnover of under £1m
• As a committed supporter of the SME market, we are keeping our prices competitive, taking the time to price according to each customer’s unique risk/reward profile, so customers can be confident they are getting a better deal for their business
• We are constantly working creatively to deliver new, innovative products that meet the changing needs of UK businesses; in October 2009 we acquired Liquidity Ltd and now offer invoice discounting, helping businesses free up much-needed cash tied up in invoices
• We are investing in strengthening our nationwide network to ensure businesses of all sizes benefit from our personal, local service, wherever they are
• In 2009 we recruited an additional 100 Business Banking Advisers in our branch network and, to support businesses with a turnover over £1m, we took on 116 new Relationship Managers, with plans to recruit a further 50 as we continue with this growth strategy throughout 2010
• We understand that SMEs are the lifeblood of the UK economy and deserve specialised support, so we offer national coverage across the UK, through our relationship teams
• Our relationship experts use their specialist sector and local knowledge to support businesses, demonstrating our belief that understanding our customers' business, performance and aspirations is key to being able to offer the best solutions to their financial needs
• Through our agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) and participation in the Government’s Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) scheme, we are helping SMEs access invaluable sources of finance; you can find out more about the EIB and EFG Scheme by downloading our factsheet and reading how it benefited one of our customers
• Our customers can be confident in our commitment to transparency; we will confirm the price at the start of any contract and not increase the price of existing lending during the agreed term*
• Throughout 2009 we offered consistently competitive rates, ensuring the highest possible returns on our customers’ deposits and equally competitive rates on unsecured lending
• Instead of shutting up shop when times were hard, we readily took on the challenges our customers faced, supporting those in difficulty by refinancing and restructuring lending
• We appreciate that different sectors require different banking solutions, which is why we offer specialist teams with an in-depth knowledge of sectors including Healthcare, Education, Social Housing, Real Estate, Local Authorities, Charities, Retail and Manufacturing
• Our recently launched proposition for businesses in the manufacturing sector (with a turnover above £1m) means that through an agreement with the EIB we are able to provide manufacturers with access to an invaluable source of lower cost finance – we appreciate that the complex nature of this sector requires support from a bank with knowledge of the industry
• We want to continue celebrating the success of UK SMEs and we are sponsors of the 2010 Santander SME of the Year Award, at the National Business Awards – we will continue to seek out business and sector specific awards to demonstrate our commitment and celebrate business success
• The Santander Group strongly believes that investing in higher education and research is the most powerful means of promoting the development and prosperity of society; we support this sector in areas such as teaching and research, international cooperation, knowledge and technology transfer, entrepreneurial initiatives, student mobility and innovation - this continues to be the cornerstone of our CSR programme
• Our awards and accolades speak for themselves: Best Bank in the UK, Euromoney 2008-2009; Global Bank of the Year, The Banker Magazine, 2009; Bank of the Year in the United Kingdom, The Banker Magazine, 2009; Business Bank of the Year, Business Moneyfacts, 2010

We are the bank that works hard to understand your business and devise creative solutions that help move it forward. We’re here for our customers in good times and bad and we tie our own success to that of
our customers.

*Terms will only vary if there is a significant change in the ability of the customer to repay that requires the facility to be restructured.