Frequently Asked Questions

Please look through the questions below and click on the one that most closely relates to your query. If the answer you are looking for is not covered, please call the Shareholder Helpline on 0871 384 2000 for further guidance.


Full information relating to Santander UK plc Sterling preference shares
Full information relating to loan notes


Your shares explained

What is an entitlement statement/should I have a share certificate?
How do I check the current share price?
What is my unique shareholder reference number?
How do I amalgamate my shareholdings?

Dividends

What are dividends?

When will I receive dividends from Santander?
How are dividends paid?
What is the Santander Shareholder Account & Dividend Re-investment Plan?
What is Spanish withholding tax?
Can I reclaim Spanish withholding tax?
I am a UK taxpayer, do I have to pay Spanish tax?

Change of address/name

How do I change my registered address/name?

Transferring shares

How do I transfer my shares?

Informing us about the death of a shareholder

Who is the legal representative?
Who is the executor?
Who is the administrator?
How do I transfer the deceased shareholder's shares?
How do I sell deceased shareholder's shares?

Minors

Can I transfer my shares to a minor?
Is there a minimum age when transferring to a minor?
If I transfer my shares to a minor will he/she be able to sell the shares?
Can a parent/guardian sell the shares on a child’s behalf?
How do I transfer the shares?

ProSearch

Who are ProSearch?
Why is this entitlement due to these shareholders?
What should shareholders do if they have received a claim form?
I am Santander customer and they already have my correct details. Why are my shareholding address details not the same?
Is there a fee for using this service?
How do I contact ProSearch?

Answers

Your shares explained

What is an entitlement statement/should I have a share certificate?

Santander does not issue share certificates, like the one you may have held with your Abbey or Alliance & Leicester shares. Instead, your share entitlement is recorded in electronic format in CREST (the UK electronic share clearance and settlement system) as CREST Depository Interests (CDIs). Each CDI you hold represents one Santander share and the Statement of Entitlement you receive once a year shows your total holdings. Statements are issued annually in December, however if you require one before this time, you can contact the Santander shareholder helpline on 0871 384 2000 to request a copy. Please note that there may be an administration charge for this service.

How do I check the current share price?

The current share price is listed to the right of this page. Santander shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange. You can also check the price of Santander shares in some national newspapers including The Times (Banco Santander) and The Financial Times (BcoSantdr) (Tuesday – Friday).
 
What is my unique shareholder reference number?

Your unique shareholder reference number (URN) helps us to identify you in our records. Whenever you contact us by telephone or in writing, you should quote this number to help us access your details. You will find it on your dividend statement or annual entitlement statement.

How do I amalgamate my shareholdings?

Every time you receive or buy Santander shares, a separate shareholding may be registered in your name if you do not provide your shareholder reference number. If you have more than one shareholding, you may want to amalgamate all of your shares into a single shareholding. This means that whenever we pay a dividend you will receive a total payment for all shares and we will not send you multiple mailings. Amalgamating shareholdings is free and can be arranged over the telephone by calling 0871 384 2000 and quoting your unique shareholder reference numbers relating to the shareholdings you wish to amalgamate.

Dividends

What are dividends?

Dividends are your share of Santanders' profits after tax. Because the dividend is paid for every share you hold, the more shares you own, the more you will earn in dividends.

When will I receive dividends from Santander?

Santander generally pays dividend four times a year: interim dividends in August, November, February with a final dividend in May.

How are dividends paid?

You can choose to receive your dividends by direct payment into a bank or building society account, or by cheque. Direct payment means that you do not have to worry about a cheque being lost or delayed in the post. You do not have to make a special trip to the bank to pay it in, and you usually have less time to wait for the funds to clear. Click here to visit Shareholder Services section to download the relevant form. 

What is the Santander Shareholder Account & Dividend Re-investment Plan?

Shareholders in the Santander Nominee Service can open a Santander Shareholder Account and Dividend Re-investment Plan (SSA) which allows them to re-invest their Santander dividends into further Santander shares automatically. These shares will be purchased quarterly and re-investments will usually take place in February, May, August and November of each year. Please click here for further information on opening an SSA.

What is Spanish withholding tax?

Spanish withholding tax at a rate of 21% will be deducted in Spain when dividends are paid on your Santander Shares. In addition, if you are resident for tax purposes in the United Kingdom, in general you will be subject to UK income tax or corporation tax on the dividends. This is charged on the gross amount of dividend paid on the shares rather than the net amount received after any Spanish withholding tax has been deducted. Please note that the rate of Spanish withholding tax increased from 19% to 21%, effective from the 1st January 2012.

Further information can be found here.

Can I reclaim Spanish withholding tax?

Please click here for guidance on the options for reclaiming withholding tax. We would advise you to seek professional advice on this matter if you are in any doubt as to your position.

I am a UK taxpayer, do I have to pay Spanish tax?

Yes, because your Santander CDIs represent an entitlement to shares in a company that is registered in Spain, and the dividends that the company pays on these are subject to Spanish withholding tax.

Please contact your own professional adviser who should be able to provide you with more detail on these issues.

Click here for guidance on Spanish tax formalities when selling Santander shares.

Change of address/name

How do I change my address?

Please download and complete the change of address form and return it by post to the address quoted on the form. Click here to visit the Shareholder Services section to download the relevant form. Alternatively you can call the helpline on 0871 384 2000 to request a change of address over the phone.

How do I change my name?

Please send a letter advising us of your change of name, quoting your unique shareholder reference number and enclosing one of the following:

        Marriage Certificate - (where change is due to marriage)

        Deed Poll Document - (where change is due to deed poll)

Birth Certificate and a copy of either the Decree Nisi or Decree Absolute - (where change is due to divorce)

Transferring Shares

How do I transfer my shares to another person or to a joint holding?

If you would like to transfer your shares to someone else, or add their name to your holding to make them a joint holder, please complete a transfer form and return it via post to the Santander Nominee Service. Click here to visit the Shareholder Services section to download the relevant form 

This service is free of charge, provided the transfer is a genuine gift for which no money or value is paid.

Informing us about the death of a shareholder

Who is the legal representative?

The person dealing with a small estate where the value of the estate is less than £15,000 or the value of the shares is under £10,000 on the date of death.

Who is the executor?

The person named in the will that is dealing with an estate that has been to probate.

Who is the administrator?

The person dealing with an estate that has been to probate but where there is no will.

How do I transfer the deceased shareholder's shares?

If the value of the estate exceeds £15,000 or the value of the shares is over £10,000 on the date of death, the Registrars will require sight of the probate document before the shares can be transferred.

If the probate is being obtained and the shares are to be transferred, the probate (sometimes referred to as Grant of Representation) needs to be lodged along with a completed transfer form – this should be completed by the Executor/s. If the estate is valued at under £10,000 and Grant of Representation has not been obtained, the Small Estates Form needs to be completed by the next of kin.

These forms are to be returned with the death certificate.

To obtain a form you can also call the Santander Nominee Service on 0871 384 2000.

How do I sell the deceased shareholder's shares?

If you wish to sell the shares and Grant of Representation has been granted then this needs to be registered by the Santander Nominee Service before the shares can be sold. Once this is done you will be able to sell the shares through a broker of your choice. If you want assistance with Spanish tax formalities, you should contact Abbey sharedealing service on 0800 169 2001. Please note there is a fee for this service.

If you wish to sell the shares and the estate is classed as a Small Estate then send the death certificate, and the Small Estates Form together so that this can be registered by the Santander Nominee Service before the shares can be sold. The shares will then be transferred to the next of kin who can then sell through a broker of their choice. If you want assistance with Spanish tax formalities, you should contact Abbey share dealing service on 0800 169 2001, please note there is a fee for this service.

I have a joint shareholding and the other shareholder has died, what do I do if I want to keep the shares in my name?

The death certificate should be sent to the relevant nominee service and the holding will be transferred into the sole name of the surviving shareholder.

Minors

Can I transfer my shares to a minor?

Yes, this is possible. A child under the age of 18 is classed as a minor and minors are able to hold shares in their own name. Santander shares can also be transferred into a Child Trust Fund (CTF).

Is there a minimum age when transferring to a minor?

There is no minimum age restriction.

If I transfer my shares to a minor will he/she be able to sell the shares?

Whilst there is no reason why a minor cannot hold shares and receive dividends, it may be more difficult for them to sell or transfer shares while they are still under 18. They must first find a stockbroker who is willing to sell on their behalf. If a child is able to sign his/her own name then he/she is judged as being able to deal.

Can a parent/guardian sell the shares on a child’s behalf?

A parent may not sign on behalf of their child to instruct sale without successfully applying to the courts to be appointed as trustee. A letter from the parents will not suffice.

How do I transfer the shares?

Please complete a Form A Transfer and return it to the relevant nominee service along with a copy of the child's birth certificate. Click here to visit Shareholder Services section to download the relevant form. 
If you wish to transfer shares to a minor, it is recommended that you seek independent financial advice.

ProSearch

Who are ProSearch?

ProSearch is a company that specialises in asset reunification (reuniting individuals with their share entitlement). They have worked with a variety of well-known companies who are actively looking to return unclaimed assets to their shareholders. You can view their website at www.prosearchassets.com.

Why is this entitlement due to these shareholders?

In November 2004, following the acquisition of Abbey National plc by Santander, all Abbey shares were cancelled and replaced with Santander CDIs (shares). Despite several attempts to contact all affected shareholders, the records held by the Santander Nominee Service indicate that a number of entitlements remain unclaimed. The entitlements include unclaimed dividends and CDIs.

What should shareholders do if they have received a claim form?

ProSearch will only send a claim form to an address at which they are certain that the shareholder, or their legal representative, now resides.

The claim forms are designed to make the recovery of entitlements as easy as possible. To use this voluntary service, shareholders should follow the instructions provided and return the signed and dated form (along with any necessary documents) to ProSearch in the pre-paid envelope provided.

I am Santander customer and they already have my correct details. Why are my shareholding address details not the same?

As the shareholder records held by the Santander Nominee Service are maintained separately from any customer relationship that a customer may have with Santander, it is not possible to either identify whether they are a Santander customer, or to access or share any customer information with the Santander Nominee Service. So even though your customer records are up to date, your shareholding records may not be.

Is there a fee for using this service?

Should you choose to use this voluntary service there will be a fee of 10%, plus VAT, of the cash and share entitlement due. ProSearch will deduct all fees from the dividends recovered. In no circumstances will the fees charged exceed the dividends recovered.

How do I contact ProSearch?

You can call them on 0800 389 6488 (or +44 (0) 121 415 0070 from outside the UK). The lines are open from 8.30am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday.