Banker Abbey outlines expansion plan

UK banking group Abbey’s Spanish owner set out plans for an additional 300 branches as part of attempts to bolster the UK business today.

Santander, which acquired Abbey in 2004, said it planned to begin opening branches in 2009 with a target of increasing its 700-strong network to 1,000 by 2012. It has previously said it is under-represented in regions such as the North-east and the Midlands.