Bank branches to be sold in Cumbria

Two Santander bank branches are to be closed down and the premises put on the market later this year.

The high street premises in Carlisle are expected to close by the middle of June as part of a company review that will see a total of 56 branches shut down.

Once the locations are out of service, the 1,720 sq ft of basement and ground-floor retail space will be sold for an asking price of £700,000, according to reports from the News and Star.

The commercial property seller explained that the particulars of the sale are “confidential” adding that the staff are unaware of the details of the closure, although they are away that it is taking place.

A spokeswoman from the bank told the paper about the closure plans: “We have been closely reviewing how customers use the new branch network.

“Based on this analysis, we are consolidating some branches but only where our detailed, two-year research shows we can continue to provide the level of service needed to the local community.”

Santander acquired a network of around 1,200 branches with some duplication after it acquired three former building societies between 2004 and 2008.