Santander Historical Timeline
1857 - Bank is founded following authorisation from Queen Isabel II of Spain. Santander is initially dedicated to finance the trade between the port of Santander and Latin America.
1900 - 1919 - Santander doubles the scale of its business, its earning power topping the average for Spanish financial institutions. During this period three major Spanish banks are founded which eventually become Banco Hispanoamericano.
1919 - 1939 - In 1923 the bank moves its head office in Santander to the Paseo de Pereda building, where it remains to this day. Santander establishes a modest network of branches in the province.
1942 - Santander acquires Banco Ávila, allowing it to establish presence in Madrid, the financial capital of Spain.
1946 - The bank acquires its old competitor in Santander, Banco Mercantil.
1947 - Santander opens its first regional office in the Americas, in Havanna, Cuba followed by others in Argentina, Mexico and Venezuela and also an office in London.
1950 - Emilio Botín Sanz de Sautuola y López becomes chairman and begins a large - scale expansion throughout Spain set to continue into the 1960s with the acquisition of a large number of local banks.
1956 - The bank's Latin American Department is founded.
1957 - On its 100th anniversary Santander becomes the 7th ranked bank in Spain.
1976 - Santander is recognised as a pioneer of commercial banking with its acquisition of National Bank of Puerto Rico and that of Banco Español-Chile in 1982.
1985 - Santander de Negocios is set up in Spain to develop investment banking and bolster wholesale market activities.
Late 1980s - Santander bolsters its presence in Europe with the acquisition of CC-Bank in Germany. A stake is also acquired in Banco de Comercio e Industria in Portugal.
1988 - Santander establishes an alliance with Royal Bank of Scotland.
1989 - The "Supercuenta Santander" is launched, one of the most innovative products in the history of Spanish banking, opening up the Spanish financial system to competition.
1994 - The acquisition of Banco Español de Crédito (Banesto) makes Santander the leading player in the Spanish market.
1995 - Further expansion in Latin America allows Santander to develop business in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela.
1999 - The amalgamation of Santander and BCH is the first major banking merger in Europe under the euro creating Spain's largest financial institution. The bank also becomes Latin America's leading bank. Banco Santander acquires group Totta y Açores and Crédito Predial Portugués in Portugal.
2000 - The Group is joined by Banespa in Brazil, Grupo Serfín in Mexico and Banco Santiago in Chile. This consolidates the Group's position as the leading financial franchise in Latin America.
2003 - Santander Consumer is set up following the merger with CC-Bank of Finconsumo, Hispamer and other consumer finance units. Today this consumer banking franchise has a presence in 12 countries across Europe.
2004 - Santander moves its Central Services in Madrid to new headquarters in Santander City (Boadilla), where 6,800 people work today.
2004 - Santander Acquires Abbey.
2005 - Santander reaches agreement to take a 19.8% stake in Sovereign Bancorp, the 18th biggest bank in the USA.
2006 - Santander makes record profits of € 7.596 billion, the biggest of any Spanish company.
2007 - Santander celebrated its 150th anniversary as the world's 8th largest bank by
market capitalization, the 7th in terms of profit and the international bank with the most branches worldwide.
2007 - Santander, together with RBS and Fortis, takeover ABN AMRO.
2008 - Santander announces its recommended takeover of Alliance &Leicester PLC
Santander Today
Click here to learn more about the Santander group.
Click here be directed to the main Abbey website.
Click here to return to the main homepage.