Santander to Shut 44 Branches, Putting Hundreds of Jobs at Risk
Santander announced plans to close 44 branches across the United Kingdom, a move that will put 291 jobs at risk. The Spanish-owned bank cited the increasing shift of customers to online banking as the primary reason for the closures.
The decision marks the latest in a series of branch closures by Santander and other high street banks as they adapt to changing customer behavior. Last year, Santander revealed plans to close 95 branches, a quarter of its total, impacting 750 workers. Lloyds Bank is also planning to shut more than 100 branches by March under a scheme of closures announced last year.
"Santander said 96 of its transactions are now done digitally," according to a BBC Business report.
The closures have drawn criticism from ministers who argue that they restrict access to cash for elderly and vulnerable people.
Fujitsu Executive to Step Down Amid Post Office Scandal
Paul Patterson, the European boss of Fujitsu, the company behind the controversial Horizon IT system used by the Post Office, will step down in March. According to BBC Business, Patterson, 60, will transition to the role of non-executive chairman of Fujitsu's UK business. In this new position, he will "continue managing the company's response" to the ongoing inquiry into the Post Office Horizon scandal.
The announcement is part of a long-planned transition, and Patterson is expected to remain with the company until the inquiry process concludes. He has been a prominent figure in Fujitsu's response to the scandal, representing the company at the public inquiry and at House of Commons select committee hearings.
Starmer Opens Door to Xi Jinping Visit After Bilateral Talks
Keir Starmer has taken a step towards improving relations with China, opening the possibility of a UK visit from Xi Jinping. The Guardian reported that this move has already drawn criticism from those in Britain concerned about Beijing's human rights record.
Starmer's visit to China marked the first by a UK prime minister in eight years.
John Crace, writing in The Guardian, suggested that Xi Jinping "didn’t really see a point to Keir’s visit."
Planning Applications for New Homes Rise, But Building Lags
New data indicates that planning applications for new homes in England are at a four-year high. According to BBC Verify, applications for 335,000 homes outside London were lodged in 2025, an increase of 60 over 2024. The data was provided by Planning Portal, the service used to request planning permission.
However, there are warnings that more needs to be done to meet Labour's target of building 1.5 million homes by 2029. Separate government data released on Thursday suggests a decrease in house building. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government stated that it had "overhauled the planning system and removed long-"
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