Banco Santander

SAN

Market cap $146B

Santander's digital consumer banking unit Openbank and its consumer finance business are merging. The banking giant announced the merger Wednesday (Oct. 15), saying it plans to eventually operate its European consumer finance businesses under the Openbank brand.

Santander Brasil is playing it safe, prioritizing high-margin clients and profitability over rapid loan growth. The bank maintains one of the best efficiency ratios among Brazilian incumbents through disciplined cost management and branch optimization. High interest rates support spreads, but slower credit growth and elevated provisions pose risks to profitability.

Spain's Santander announced on Wednesday the integration of its digital lender Openbank and Santander Consumer Finance (SCF) into a single entity that will gradually operate its European consumer finance businesses under Openbank.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- #creditratingagency--KBRA assigns preliminary ratings to eight classes of mortgage-backed notes from Santander Mortgage Asset Receivable Trust 2025-CES1 (SAN 2025-CES1), a $289.3 million RMBS transaction, as of the cut-off date, sponsored by Santander Bank, N.A. and Canyon PS1-25 Holdings, LP. The pool consists entirely of newly originated closed-end second lien mortgages (CES; 100.0%). The underlying pool is seasoned less than three months on average and comprises 3,741 loans originated.

A consortium of leading global banks, including Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC), Citigroup Inc (NYSE:C), Deutsche Bank AG (NYSE:DB), Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE:GS, ETR:GOS), UBS Group AG (NYSE:UBS), Santander, Barclays, BNP Paribas, MUFG, and TD Bank Group, is exploring the potential issuance of stablecoins pegged 1:1 to G7 currencies, Reuters reported. The initiative, currently in its early stages, aims to investigate the creation of blockchain-based digital assets linked to traditional fiat currencies.

Banco Santander is a global bank undergoing digital transformation, with strong fundamentals and a fair valuation, making SAN stock a buy. SAN's efficiency initiatives, including cloud migration and CRM integration, are improving profitability and supporting growth across its diversified global operations. Despite macroeconomic and competitive risks, SAN's digital transition and scale position it well.

Investors with an interest in Banks - Foreign stocks have likely encountered both Banco Santander (SAN) and Nordea Bank AB (NRDBY). But which of these two companies is the best option for those looking for undervalued stocks?

European banks extended their stock rally in the third quarter, surging ahead of US and Asian counterparts. European banking stocks have been propelled by buoyant quarterly profits, supported by strong noninterest income that helped offset the impact of declining interest rates on lending income.

Santander UK said on Friday its CEO Mike Regnier will step down in the first quarter of 2026, as the British arm of Spain's Banco Santander prepares to merge with TSB.

Santander's board has approved an interim cash dividend of 0.115 euros per share against its 2025 results, up 15% from a year earlier, the Spanish bank said on Tuesday.