Santander US

Last week, we hosted our Philadelphia Community Reception, bringing together our network of nonprofit partners and Santander Bank, N.A. grantees. This gathering was a valuable opportunity to connect with local leaders, share insights on community needs, provide updates on our $13.6B Community Plan and reinforce the importance of collaboration in driving positive change.   During the event we had the honor of presenting checks to CEIBA, a coalition of Latino community-based organizations in Philadelphia, True Access Capital, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing access to capital and stimulating business growth throughout Delaware and southeastern Pennsylvania, and Sisterly Love Collective, a women-led nonprofit that provides business and financial resources to food and beverage entrepreneurs.   Attendees enjoyed delicious Malaysian cuisine from Kampar Restaurant, crafted by Chef Ange Branca, a 2023 Philadelphia cohort graduate of our award-winning Cultivate Small Business program, which supports women-, minority- and immigrant-owned businesses.   Thank you to everyone who participated and made the event a success.   #CultivateSmallBusiness

November is National Family Caregivers Month. Santander celebrates the incredible dedication and compassion of caregivers everywhere and is committed to supporting our employees so they can balance work and family. We asked members of our Thrive Business Resource Group to share what caregiving means to them. Swipe to meet some of our members! 

In May 2023, Santander launched the award-winning “Titania” to raise public awareness about cybersecurity. From the Netflix show “Money Heist”, Juanjo Ramirez Mascaro takes his screenwriting to a top-charting drama podcast series. Now translated to English for Santander’s US audience, “Unleashed” – a thriller podcast series where AI and technology are the perfect pairing for deception, manipulation, and theft – is available wherever you listen to your podcasts! NEW EPISODES EVERY TUESDAY! https://lnkd.in/ec2Y2TCx

For a second year in a row, Auto Finance News has named a Santander US leader as the winner of the Auto Finance Excellence Award in Leadership. This year Betty Jotanovic was recognized for her leadership qualities and contributions to the financial sector. Congratulations, Betty! 

Santander US team members and local leadership as well as New England Revolution players and staff visited Mozart Elementary, a City Year school in the Roslindale neighborhood of Boston, on a picture perfect Fall day to volunteer beautification services for the school, including the painting of outdoor facilities, creating materials for a sensory path for the students, and packing student supply kits.   City Year has been an integral partner in Santander’s efforts to improve educational outcomes in major cities across the country for over a decade. In 2022, Santander US announced a $2.5 million, three-year commitment to City Year, which included $1 million of funding through Santander Bank, N.A. to provide academic tutoring, coaching, afterschool activities and more to students in New York, Boston, Miami, Philadelphia, and Providence as well as $1.5 million for City Year Dallas through the Santander Consumer USA Inc. Foundation. An additional grant of up to $500,000 to support youth education and development in Dallas was announced last month: https://lnkd.in/eRu7pfqJ   Thank you to all the volunteers who helped make the Mozart School even more special for its students! 

The launch of Openbank is a major milestone on our transformation in the U.S., leveraging the strengths of our global network and Santander’s innovative technology. Bringing Openbank to market in the US is an important step towards achieving our aspirations of becoming a national, digital bank with branches, and will provide customers with a seamless digital experience. Openbank is a division of Santander Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.

Today, on Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we honor the rich cultures, identities, and resilience of Indigenous communities. At Santander, we are committed to uplifting diverse voices to drive innovation and create meaningful change. Let’s continue to learn, listen, and collaborate to build a future that honors the past and creates opportunities for everyone.

“Financial services providers that are able to evolve with consumers’ changing needs and preferences will be critical partners in helping them achieve their goals and their vision of financial prosperity.”   Santander US CEO Tim Wennes shared his thoughts with Fortune on the state of American consumers, how they have reacted to shifting economic conditions, and what’s next for middle-income households. Learn more about our ongoing efforts to better understand our customers and deliver the enhanced products and services that best support their individual financial journeys:   https://lnkd.in/enRcrV7p

Santander US released new research that shows while middle-income Americans remain optimistic about their financial futures, they continue to navigate prices pressures from inflation. More consumers (81%) consider inflation a major concern in Q3, and 86% say it has impacted their daily lives. Nine in 10 (89%) say they have taken some action in response to inflation, such as scaling back on retail spending. As a result of these efforts, households have been able to remain current on their bills, and more of them (71%) say they are on the right track toward financial prosperity than a year ago. While many households continue to feel the effects of inflation, few consumers have taken advantage of the higher rates available on savings through a high-yield savings account or certificate of deposit (CD). Six in 10 households (61%) have not yet moved their savings to earn a higher rate of interest, and 24% are unaware of the interest rate they currently earn. The survey also identified a change in mindset around homeownership, which is falling in importance as consumers seek out flexibility and affordability, especially among younger generations. Seven in 10 Gen Z and millennials (69%) say owning a home was more important for their parents’ generation, and six in 10 (59%) believe homeownership as a sign of financial prosperity is an outdated concept. Even among younger homeowners, 46% say owning a home is more trouble than it is worth and miss the financial flexibility of renting. Multifamily housing has proven to be a cost-effective option for many middle-income consumers. Of those residing in a multifamily unit, two-thirds agree they are a good solution to produce more affordable housing options and increase the housing supply. https://lnkd.in/e4pQt-6i

Applications are now open for our Summer 2025 Internship Program and we’re looking for talented individuals to join our team! Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from industry experts and gain hands-on experience with impactful projects. Ready to apply? Visit https://lnkd.in/e7dUHP5V to learn more and submit your application today.