Santander has confirmed that its branch at 6 Marischal Street, Peterhead, will close its doors for the final time at Monday, June 16, 2025, as part of a wider restructuring of its UK branch network.
The decision comes amid a significant shift in customer banking habits, with more people choosing digital channels over traditional in-branch services. According to Santander, there has been a 63% increase in digital transactions since 2019, while financial transactions completed in branches have dropped by 61% over the same period.
A spokesperson for Santander UK explained:
“As customer behaviour changes, we are ensuring that our branches remain fit for the future. As a business, we must move with customers and balance our investment across all the places where we interact with customers, to deliver the very best for them now and in the future. Closing a branch is always a very difficult decision and we spend a great deal of time assessing where and when we do this and how to minimise the impact it may have on our customers.”
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The closure is part of a larger plan that will see 95 of Santander’s 444 UK branches shut, reducing the network to 349 locations. The bank said it reviewed branch usage, local alternatives, and customer preferences before making the decision. In Peterhead, 91% of branch customers already use a variety of ways to do their banking, with 71% using online, mobile, or telephone banking services.
To help affected customers, Santander will introduce a “community banker” in the area, who will operate from local facilities such as libraries. The bank has also informed LINK, the independent cash access body, which will assess the community’s needs and make recommendations for alternative cash services.
The closure of the Peterhead branch reflects a broader trend in the banking sector, as institutions adapt to the rapid adoption of digital services and changing customer expectations.
