Very well run organization which exalted risk management, but ultimately too tolerant of bullies and sexual harassers. - Investment Banking Managing Director Santander Employee Review

4.0
29 May 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Risk Management structure and Governance is par excellence Project Finance is best of breed Colleagues in Madrid HQ for the most part highly competent and very hard working Good compensation packages outside of Spain

Cons

Still too tolerant of very bad behaviour by “star execs”; people that wouldn’t have lasted a day at JPM, Barclays or Citibank due to bullying or sexual harassment, for example. The bank rather pay off women upon women and have them sign NDAs rather than deal with the perps. Hard to break C-suite ranks if not a Spanish male Risk Management systems deplorable, had to manage many risk via spreadsheets The republic-style of management meant that each region had multiple layers of exec and risk committees to contend with for any single deal - highly onerous and nearly impossible to streamline

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

1.0
18 Mar 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Some talented coworkers doing their best despite the environment.

Cons

My experience at Santander was defined by constant confusion, poor leadership, and a complete lack of strategic clarity. Information from management is frequently unclear, contradictory, or changes with little to no explanation. Priorities shift so often that it becomes nearly impossible to execute meaningful work or see projects through to completion. Long‑running initiatives are regularly abandoned midway, only to pivot toward new “urgent” goals that are later changed again. This creates an environment of perpetual chaos rather than progress. There is little transparency around decision‑making, and employees are left to deal with the fallout of constantly moving targets. Compensation is underwhelming compared to the demands and stress of the role. Leadership at the middle‑management level can be particularly challenging, with some managers creating an unnecessarily hostile or dismissive work environment instead of providing support or direction. Overall, the culture feels reactive rather than strategic, with a heavy emphasis on optics over actual outcomes. If you are looking for stability, clear communication, or leadership that empowers teams, you will likely be disappointed. Cons: Disorganized leadership, constantly shifting priorities, poor communication, low compensation, stressful culture.

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