Santander is a leading global bank that originated in Spain in 1857. It has over 102 million customers and more than 14,000 branches worldwide, making it the largest international bank by number of branches. Santander first entered the US market in the 1960s and has expanded over the decades through key acquisitions like Sovereign Bank in 2009. Today, Santander operates various banking businesses across the US and continues growing its presence in the country.

1. in the U.S.

2. Santander in the U.S.

3. Santander is a leading global bank with origins going back to 1857.
We are one of the largest banks in the eurozone, the leading financial franchise
in Latin America and one of the top 25 retail banks in the United States. We
have 102 million customers and over 14,000 branches, the largest network of any
international bank.
Our international success has been built on a sustainable strategy. Geographic
diversification, a focus on retail and commercial banking, disciplined use of capital, financial strength, efficiency and prudent risk management are the pillars of
Santander’s business model.
Santander first entered the United States in 1968 and listed on the New York
Stock Exchange in 1987. In 1991, Santander formed an alliance that lasted five
years with First Fidelity Bank Corp, becoming its largest shareholder. In 2006,
Santander entered the consumer finance business by acquiring Drive, a leading
car financing company based in Dallas. Today, this business is called Santander
Consumer USA.
The acquisition of Sovereign Bank in 2009 allowed Santander to become a significant player in the northeastern U.S. The combination of the Group’s international best practices, resources and capabilities with local knowledge and expertise is the basis of our success.
As our corporate claim states, we want to be the “Bank for your ideas” for our U.S.
customers. We want to offer them our talent and resources to continue making
their goals a reality. We strive to be an active partner for our communities.
Our global commitment to communities is demonstrated by our support for
higher education through Santander Universities, a unique alliance with 1,020
universities in 20 countries. We introduced Santander Universities in the U.S. in
2009. Today, we are partners with 26 American universities and fund over 950
scholarships a year.
I am optimistic about our future in the U.S. We are pleased to rebrand Sovereign
Bank as Santander, one of the most valuable global financial brands. The new
name underlines our strong commitment to our customers, shareholders and
communities in the U.S.
Emilio Botín
Chairman
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4. Santander:
A Global Financial Leader
Santander is a leading global retail and commercial bank. Its business is
geographically diversified, with mature and emerging markets accounting for
45% and 55% of profit, respectively.
Rest of Europe
5%
The Bank is among the top 20 financial institutions worldwide by market
capitalization and is one of the best capitalized banks in the world, with an 11.1%
capital ratio1.
United Kingdom
13%
Santander’s international structure is based on subsidiaries that are autonomous
in capital and liquidity, some of which are listed. Each subsidiary is governed by
local regulations and customer deposits are protected by local insurance funds.
Santander’s geographic diversification and commercial banking model provide
substantial recurring results and continued growth for the global organization.
The Bank has 102 million customers and 14,680 branches, the largest network of
any international bank. Santander is also one of the most efficient banks in the
world, with a cost-to-income of 46.1%.
Poland
5%
Germany
5%
United States2
12%
Mexico
12%
Brazil
25%
Portugal
1%
Spain
8%
Rest of Latin America
3%
Chile
6%
Argentina
5%
Geographic distribution
of Santander’s profit 3
Ten main markets
Additional markets where the Bank
operates: Peru, Uruguay, Norway, Sweden,
Finland, Denmark, Holland, Belgium,
Austria, Switzerland and Italy
1. Basel II, Tier 1 Common ratio, as of June 30, 2013
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2. Santander’s presence in the United States comprises: Santander Bank
(retail and commercial banking - Northeast); Santander Consumer
USA (auto finance - Texas); Banco Santander International (private
banking – Florida); Banco Santander (wholesale banking – New
York); Santander Bancorp (retail banking – Puerto Rico).
3. As of June, 2013
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5. Santander 1857–75
Banco Santander
1857–2013
1857
Banco Santander founded
On May 15, 1857, Queen Isabella II signed a royal decree authorizing
the merchants of Santander to establish an issuer of banknotes under the
name Banco de Santander. The first headquarters opened on August 20,
1857, with a staff of seventeen.
1875
Banco Santander becomes a credit society
In 1874, the Bank of Spain was granted a monopoly over banknote
issuance for the entire country. Banco de Santander was offered the
option of merging with what then became the central bank but the
Bank’s directors decided to follow a different path and, one year
later, turned the company into a credit society.
A 1907 Banco Santander board meeting.
From left to right: Ramón de la Riva Hernán,
Enrique Vidal, Álvaro Flórez Estrada, Emilio Botín
López, Leocadio González Rugama and José
Calderón García.
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6. Santander 1942–57
1942
First Madrid office
Santander opened its first office in Spain’s capital city, on Calle
de Alcalá, in the financial district.
1947
Santander goes to the Americas
Havana was the location for Santander’s first office in the Americas.
In 1956, the Bank extended its reach to Mexico, followed by branch
openings in São Paulo, Caracas, Puerto Rico, Montevideo, and Buenos
Aires over the decade.
1955
First European office
Santander opened its first London office at number 38 Lombard
Street, in the heart of the City. Years later, the Bank moved to
Santander House at 100 Ludgate Hill.
1957
One hundred years, one hundred branches
On the occasion of the Bank’s centenary, the board decided to
double its capital stock to two hundred million pesetas. This made
Santander Spain’s sixth-largest financial institution. The Bank also
reached the milestone of 100 branches that year.
The Bank’s first foothold in Madrid was
number 37 of the emblematic Calle de
Alcalá, in the heart of what was then the
city’s financial district.
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7. Santander 1963–87
1963
First acquisition in Latin America
In 1963, the Bank became the first Spanish financial institution
to acquire a Latin American bank when it took over Banco del
Hogar Argentino and renamed it Banco Santander Argentina.
1976–77
A branch in New York and
a bank in Puerto Rico
Santander’s first foothold in New York was located in Mies van der
Rohe’s iconic Seagram Building. This office was upgraded to a full
branch in 1977. Santander acquired a bank in Puerto Rico in 1976.
1983
A pioneer of technological change
The bank undertook major initiatives to transform and modernize
its operations. Its board and management moved to Madrid and
operations were computerized.
1986
Emilio Botín appointed chairman
In November 1986, Emilio Botín, until then CEO, was appointed
chairman. This marked the start of a new growth cycle for the Bank,
positioning it for international growth.
1987
Banco Santander is listed on
the New York Stock Exchange
Banco Santander was first listed on the NYSE on
July 30, 1987. The traded volume that day was
476,000 American Depositary Receipts (ADRs).
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8. Santander 1989–94
1989–93
A milestone in Spanish banking
history and a new image
From 1989 to 1993, Santander experienced spectacular growth. The
key to its success was the “Supercuenta”, a deposit account, which
revolutionized the market and introduced genuine competition. Branch
offices changed their image to attract new customers. The main
logo—a stylized flame reminiscent of Santander’s initial “S” set against
a metallic red background—conveyed a sense of determined leadership.
1990
Number two in Puerto Rico
Santander acquired the Caguas Central Federal Savings Bank
and became the second-largest bank in Puerto Rico.
1991
Alliance with First Fidelity Bank Corp.
The purchase of close to 30% of First Fidelity between 1991 and
1994 was Santander’s first major transaction in the mainland United
States. In 1995, First Fidelity merged with First Union Bank to
become First Union Corporation. This stake, sold in the second half
of the nineties, gave Santander valuable knowledge about the U.S.
market.
1994
Leadership in Latin America
New acquisitions between 1994 and 2000—including Grupo
Financiero Serfin in Mexico and Banco do Estado de São Paulo
in Brazil—built up the Bank’s presence in Latin America, making
Santander the leading financial franchise in the region.
The Altino Arantes building, former headquarters
of the Bank in São Paulo (Banespa).
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9. Santander 1994–2002
1994
Santander becomes Spain’s largest bank
Banco Español de Credito (Banesto), one of Spain’s leading banks,
was brought under government administration in 1993. Santander
acquired this distressed institution in 1994.
1999
The rise of a giant
The Banco Santander and Banco Central Hispano merger brought
together two of Spain’s four modern banks. The deal was the first
major European banking consolidation after the launch of the euro.
2002
Santander Group City is born
The Bank’s rapid growth and the need to support its international
business prompted the consolidation of all head offices functions
at one location. Construction of Santander Group City began
in 2002, and was completed two years later. The Group’s headquarters
are located in Boadilla del Monte, 15 kilometers from Madrid. The
innovative and constantly evolving green business-campus provides
a workplace for nearly 6,700 employees.
The Santander Group City in 2012, from
an aerial photograph by Roland Halbe.
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10. Santander 2004–07
2004
Arrival in the UK: The acquisition of Abbey
The Abbey takeover radically transformed Santander, as it opened
up to the British market, reinforcing its presence in Europe. This
transaction placed Santander among the world’s top ten banks by
market value and made it the fourth-largest in Europe and the
biggest in the eurozone. In 2008, Santander became the third-largest
bank in the UK with the acquisitions of Alliance & Leicester and the
deposits and retail network of Bradford & Bingley. The brand change
to Santander took place in 2010. Santander now has more than 26
million customers and nearly 1,200 branches in the UK.
2005
Santander Group reaches 10,000 offices
and 66 million customers worldwide
2006
Acquisition of Drive
In 2006, Santander acquired 90% of the Dallas-based U.S. auto
finance company Drive Financial, now called Santander Consumer
USA (SCUSA). It ranks among the largest U.S. auto lenders. In 2012,
three leading private equity firms invested $1 billion in a 25% stake,
valuing the company at $4 billion. In 2013, SCUSA and Chrysler
Group launched Chrysler Capital, a new private label, full service
program for Chrysler dealers.
The Bank’s takeover of Abbey National
was completed on November 12, 2004,
when Santander’s stock (paid to former
Abbey shareholders) became tradeable
on the London Stock Exchange.
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11. Santander 2007–09
2007
150 years, one brand
On its 150th anniversary, the Bank brought all its businesses under
the Santander brand, a global brand for the strengths and values that
have propelled the Bank to its leading position in the eurozone and
Latin America and placed it in the top ten in the world by market
capitalization and profit.
The largest takeover in banking history
Banco Santander, the Royal Bank of Scotland and Fortis joined forces
to buy ABN AMRO’s assets for ¤71.1 billion, the largest transaction in
banking history. As part of the transaction, Santander acquired Banco
Real —thus becoming one of the three largest financial groups in
Brazil— and Antonveneta in Italy, which was sold that same year.
2009
Acquisition of Sovereign Bank
Santander purchased 20% of Sovereign Bank in 2005 and three years
later increased its stake to 100%, completing its entry into the U.S.
retail banking market through a network of more than 700 branches
in nine northeastern states.
In 2009, Santander completed the acquisition
of Sovereign Bank, a retail bank present in
Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts,
Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey,
New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.
Above, Sovereign Bank branch located in North
Atherton, PA.
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12. Santander 2009–12
2009
Top ten American universities
joined Santander’s program
The core component of Santander’s corporate social responsibility
policy is its commitment to higher education through Santander
Universities. In 2012, the program had agreements with 26 universities
in the U.S. and provided funding for over 950 scholarships.
2011
Expansion into Poland
Santander took over Poland’s third-largest bank, Bank Zachodni WBK.
The same year, the Group acquired the Scandinavian SEB group’s
retail banking business in Germany. Later, the Group also acquired
Poland’s Kredyt Bank.
2012
“Best Bank in the World” for the third time
Euromoney, the prestigious banking and finance magazine, awarded
Santander the accolade of “Best Bank in the World” for the first time
in 2005, and again in 2008 and 2012. The magazine highlighted
Santander’s geographic diversification and subsidiary model as key
factors in this recognition.
Santander Universities was launched in 1996
in Spain. By 2012 it had more than 1,000
agreements with universities in 20 countries.
The program encourages international
exchanges of students and teaching staff and
promotes innovation and entrepreneurship.
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13. Santander 2013
2013
Santander, the most sustainable
bank in the world
Awards given by Financial Times and the International Finance Corp,
a World Bank agency, recognize Santander’s dedication to higher
learning, via its involvement with universities, as a positive force for
economic and social development.
U.S. operations unified under
the Santander brand
Santander in the United States is made up of five businesses: Sovereign
Bank, N.A. (Northeast U.S.); Santander Consumer USA (Dallas, TX);
Banco Santander International (Miami, FL); Santander Bancorp (Puerto
Rico), and Banco Santander (New York, NY). Sovereign Bank changes its
brand to Santander in October.
Team Members show their pride at the first annual
Santander US Convention in September 2012.
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14. Published by
Santander Bank, N.A.
Produced and edited by
Turner
Editorial coordinator
Nuria Martínez Deaño
Graphic design
Studio Fernando Gutiérrez
Watercolors
Matthew Cook
Printing
Gráficas Palermo S.L.
© Santander Group, 2013

15. Santander