The Southend High Street branch of banking giant Santander is set to close.

It will be joined by the Hadleigh branch, in London Road.

The branch is one of 140 across the country which have been marked for the axe, putting 1,270 jobs at risk.

The Southend branch will close for good in November while the Hadleigh bank will shut its doors in May. 

The lender said the closures are in response to how customers are choosing to carry out their banking.

Santander has consulted unions on the proposed changes and will seek to find alternative roles for the 1,270 staff members affected, wherever possible.

The bank expects to be able to redeploy around a third of that number.

In a document, published to explain the Southend closure, bank bosses said a "comprehensive internal review" was undertaken at the branch.

A spokesman said: "Our analysis and considerations included:  

  • the way our Southend High Street customers are choosing to bank with us
  • the availability and proximity of additional Santander branches in surrounding areas
  • the availability of alternative ways to bank with Santander
  • access to alternative ways to bank in the local area such as the Post Office and cash machines
  • the level of facilities provided in the branch
  • property considerations such as expiry of a lease for the branch premises.

"As a result of our assessment and following careful consideration, we have taken the difficult decision to close Southend High Street branch on 7 November 2019."

Susan Allen, Santander's head of retail and business banking, said: "The way our customers are choosing to bank with us has changed dramatically in recent years, with more and more customers using online and mobile channels.

"As a result, we have had to take some very difficult decisions over our less-visited branches, and those where we have other branches in close proximity.

"We will support customers of closing branches to find alternative ways to bank with us that best suit their individual needs. We are also working alongside our unions to support colleagues through these changes and to find alternative roles for those impacted wherever possible."