Santander injects £4.5bn into UK after buying 318 RBS branches

This does nothing to increase competition. The last thing we need are more Santander branches.

If I were a customer that gets transferred from RBS to Santander the first thing I would do is move somewhere else, and so I think they will fail to hold a large number of customers.

Ask customers of Abbey and A&L what they think of Santander. More branches of a bank which offers poor customer service is exactly what we don't need. I will be transferring my RBS accounts to the identical products at the Nat West next door.

The bank is becoming stronger so sell 300 plus branches?!

Santander is a (HUGE) disaster waiting to happen. I am glad I left Abbey when it was Abbey National and already going down hill.

Is Santander stable? The Spanish economy is going downhill rapidly.

Why is the FSA permitting the most complained about bank to take over an additional 300+ branches?? Surely Santander's own house should be in order before such an acquasition takes place.

Re the comment from Alexander Middlemas.The key was to pre-empt the sale by moving the account beforehand as I did.It was pretty clear two or three months ago where these branches would end up.

Customer service from just about all of the banks is pretty poor, but Santander surely should be awarded the wooden spoon,and I remain unconvinced of its financial strength.

I couldn't agree with 'Anonymous 1' more and Keith - in my opinion, no.

ref moving accounts - just done it.........

I won’t bore you details with my latest experience of Santander’s pathetic efforts at providing service – but suffice to say that they are really to be avoided if at all possible. I, like many others who have commented, will be removing all my funds from them as soon as possible.

One wonders if they will have learned lessons from the debacle that was their attempt at merging their systems, with those of Abbey, when they do the same to the RBS accounts they are taking over. Given the apparent lack of basic understanding of customer needs demonstrated and obvious skill shortages within their IT function then one can predict a re –run. So all those who are advocating to vote with their feet are absolutely right.

Try First Direct who (as we all know) provide an exemplary level of service – they would be a welcome breath of fresh air for apoplectic Santander customers.

Please say this isn't true someone !!

http://www.citywire.co.uk/money/wednesday-papers-citi-to-put-online-bank-egg-up-for-sale-bid-news-and-gossip/a419643/full?ref=citywire-money-latest-news-list

I am moving my account from RBS (England) across the road to Natwest. Same products same excellent internet banking package. I am not going to be told who to bank with.

So much for increased competition. This, in some peoples eyes, makes the EU decision makers look stupid or corrupt.

I am amazed at how many people dislike success,or is it

just that it is foreign success.

Its quite simple Atheist, I decide who I bank with not some nonentity in Brussels. Whatever RBS's faults, on a personal level they have always given excellent service operating my accounts. I have already sent an e-mail to my account manager stating that I have no intention of being handed over on a platter to Santander.

Andrew Diggens, and so you should,. But go vith caution if you look at LloydsTSB. they have not proved very good to me after my good old bank TSB were taken over by Lloydss, whereas I have found Santander excellent,you can only speak as you find.