Globally Minded, Community Focused: Santander Bank Sets the Standard for Banking Institutions

Santander Bank has a rich and globally immersed history. While its origins can be traced to a small city in Spain in 1857, the bank first came to the U.S. in 1902, located in Wyomissing, PA. But what started as a small bank has since expanded to a nine-state foothold in the Northeast corridor, with a global network and unrivaled connectivity to Europe and Latin America, a commitment to serve its 165 million customers, and a client-centric relationship model that positions it for continued growth in the U.S. 

“Santander Bank supports consumer, business, commercial, corporate, and investment banking clients throughout the Commonwealth,” Mark Schrieber, Managing Director, Head of Mid-Atlantic & South Corporate & Middle Market Banking, Santander Bank, North America, says. “Our purpose is to help people and businesses prosper. We aim to be the financial institution of choice in each of our markets by acting responsibly and earning the lasting loyalty of our customers, shareholders, employees and communities.”

One of the ways Santander does this is by creating a one-stop shop for its customers. In 2023, the bank unified its Commercial Banking and Real Estate and Vehicle Finance teams to help create one cohesive banking opportunity for its clients. By doing this, Santander best serves its clients, which is its number one priority.

In addition, the bank’s access to international markets in Europe and Latin America help provide capabilities and solutions to U.S. customers that other banks cannot – and its client-first model ensures that members have the access they need to the bank’s full network. 

Inclusion is an important core value for Santander, and that relates both to the employees the bank hires and the clients they serve.

“The economic engine of Pennsylvania’s Hispanic population ranks among the top 10 highest of any state,” Schrieber adds. “At Santander, we know that entrepreneurs create jobs while strengthening our communities, and we are committed to fostering economic growth and inclusivity by providing support and access to capital for entrepreneurs throughout our footprint and beyond.

“We are committed to working with the PA Chamber to help business leaders align their resources to capitalize on the growing demand for goods and services given their position and voice in Pennsylvania’s economy.”

With over 800 of the close to 5,000 employees in Santander’s system located in Pennsylvania, it makes sense that the bank would want to continue building rapport in the Commonwealth. Santander has been working on modernizing its retail network by investing in digital capabilities and new tools and resources. Santander’s newly forged relationship with the PA Chamber underscores its commitment to Pennsylvania, as it seeks to help business leaders generate access to capital, align their resources, and meet the growing demand for goods and services in today’s economy.

In 2023 alone, Santander Bank provided more than $2 million in grants across 65 organizations supporting community services in Pennsylvania; and employees volunteered more than 8,600 hours across the Commonwealth, showcasing how committed and uniquely positioned the bank is to lead Pennsylvania toward becoming more competitive and a great place to live, work and raise families. 

“Santander has made a lot of great progress in 2023, and we look forward to building upon that momentum in 2024,” Schrieber says. “Our clients are well-positioned to capitalize on the current economic environment, having successfully navigated various challenges, including supply chain bottlenecks, labor shortages, and persistent inflation.”

Santander Bank is focused on providing stability through a steady and trusted client relationship, no matter what. With a strong and growing footprint in Pennsylvania, this global bank looks forward to continuing to uplift people and communities across the Keystone State for years to come.