Save yourself the bother. Underpaid, over worked. Tedious, unorganised chaos - Anonymous employee Santander Employee Review

1.0
13 Apr 2018
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The people- non management! That's it. The canteen costs a fortune, toilets are disgusting, lifts never work, equipment dated, office space manky.

Cons

Expect more to be added to your role on a regular basis with no pay increase even if you are part of a specialist team. Stressful doesn't come near to covering it. They squeeze as much as they can out of you for as little as they can get away with. No support from managers due to their inability to understand what our role is or how to do it. A common managerial response to your queries is 'what do you think?'. They are only there to pull you up for going to the toilet or being unwell or to tell you off when you've made an error in one of the dozens of procedures we are expected to follow. System are an absolute joke. After spending millions on a new Investment Hub we are expected to also use an archaic banking system to process card payments. Processes change on a regular basis adding to the length of your call but you will not be given sufficient time to update your knowledge as 5 mins at the start of your shift is deemed ok for this. Training is a joke. You will either be handed a pack of screen shots or have this read to you yet you will be expected to follow a new process to perfection even after its umpteenth change. Performance management is basically a popularity contest. If your pals with the right person then you will go far very quickly and get away with pretty much anything however, if you speak up or highlight any issue then prepare to get black balled. If you have the audacity to work part time then don't even bother applying for any new role or promotion. I have never seen any part timer getting promoted, ever. So you may hear about work life balance but it is a myth, it never has or will exist at Santander. Annual bonuses reduced this year again even though profit significantly increased. Wage rise pretty standard however, the longer you've been there the less you get so don't expect any kind of reward for being a long term employee. Too much time is spent fine tooth combing calls meaning ample opportunities to resolve real issues are missed. There are never enough advisors to handle the call volume, unfortunately no new staff can be taken on as there are so many folk off sick with stress related illness. Complaints process is a shambles, no support from managers who somehow always manage to be busy when you have an escalation. Do not expect to be supported in any way with this. Back office - oh my God, where to start!- a bunch of lazy, unqualified idiots. Seriously, trained monkeys could do a better job. Totally sick of having to apologise to clients for their total incapability to read, write or function at an acceptable level. Santander is where common sense came to die.

Explore other reviews about Santander

5.0
5 Mar 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Bonus based on performance. The company always put on events for the employees. Great work environment

Cons

Work long days. And sometimes weekends. Not much room for growth

4.0
4 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Of all the companies I have worked for, Santander has had the strongest training program. The training was comprehensive, well-structured, and especially valuable for employees who are new to the banking industry. Additionally, Santander's ONE software is by far the most intuitive and user friendly banking platform I have used, making it easy to learn and navigate while supporting efficient daily operations.

Cons

Like most retail banking roles, there is a strong sales component. With fewer customers visiting branches due to online banking and ATMs, much of the day is spent making outbound calls to existing clients, trying to set appointments, and push products and services. While I understand the importance of sales in the industry, I personally felt there was significant pressure to prioritize sales goals over relationship building and client service, which I was not comfortable with.

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