On its mortgage lending, the bank said it continued to target low loan-to-values, low loan-to-income multiples and geographically diverse business.
Miguel Sard, MD, mortgage division, said: “To date, 2016 has been an interesting year for the UK housing market. From the introduction of an additional 3% stamp duty on second homes, to the EU Referendum vote. Despite these big changes in the market, we’re pleased to see that our H1 2016 mortgage lending numbers were positive, with net lending up year on year. We look forward to supporting aspirational homeowners make their dream a reality.”
UK lending overall increased 3% in the first six months to June, with company lending up 11% in what the bank termed a ‘solid business performance in a challenging environment’.
Santander is one of the few banks to actively promote and explain its digital agenda for its global customers and the strategic changes this will bring. Its plans include harnessing data to spur business growth, updating and modernising systems and streamlining processes and the organisation in general.
In one year, the bank’s digital customers increased from 3.5 million to 19.1 million, up 23%, with Brazil at five million and the UK with 4.3 million seeing the biggest spikes. On a global basis, mobile banking users surged 54% in the last 12 months.
In June 2016, Santander UK became the first UK bank to introduce voice banking technology with the investment hub launching the same month.
UK first half attributable profit was £656m, £88m lower than 2015, which the bank attributed to the bank corporation tax surcharge.
The global bank headquartered in Spain operates in continental Europe, Latin America and the United States.
