With competitive interest rates and overpay at no extra cost, Santander personal loans can be a flexible solution if you need extra money to consolidate your debt, handle an unexpected situation or make the best out of a special occasion.
Please note: You should always refer to your loan agreement for exact repayment amounts as they may vary from our results.
Late repayments can cause you serious money problems. See our debt help guides.
Active in 15 countries, Spain-founded Banco Santander is a global banking group with around 164 million customers worldwide. It arrived in the UK in November 2004 and currently has around 14 million customers. Santander is a customer-focused bank and aims to provide high-quality, seamless services across its network, both digital and in-person.
This was demonstrated when Santander was highly commended in the Finder Personal Loans Customer Satisfaction Awards for 2023. We found that 87% of Santander personal loan customers would recommend the bank.
Both new and old customers can apply for a personal loan with Santander, but if you already have a Santander bank account, you may be able to borrow from £1,000 to £25,000.
Before applying, don’t forget to use an eligibility checker. It will tell you if you’re likely to be accepted without impacting your credit score. Once that’s done, you can either apply in-branch or directly online in a few minutes. If you’re approved, instant funding is available, so you don’t need to wait for days to kick-start your projects.
| Loan type | Unsecured Personal Loan |
|---|---|
| Loan amounts | £1,000 to £25,000 |
| Loan terms | 12 months to 60 months |
| Loan rate type | Fixed |
| Product fee | 0% |
| Same-day funding available | |
| Same-day funding note | Available in branch. |
| Instant decisions in most cases | |
| Soft-search facility available | |
| Joint applications | |
| Overpay without penalty | |
| Concurrent loans allowed | |
| Topping-up pays off existing loan and initiates a new loan | |
| Repayment methods | Direct Debit |
| Available to | Existing Customers only |
|---|---|
| Age | 21 or over |
| Residency | UK resident |
| Income | £10,500+ for loans up to £19,999, or £20,000+ for loans between £20,000 and £25,000 |
| Credit profiles | Good |
| Acceptance note | £1,000 - £19,999 – annual income of £10,500+ £20,000 - £25,000 – annual income of £20,000+ |
| Additional requirements | You must be employed, self-employed or retired. You must be on the electoral roll and live permanently in the UK. You must have a good credit record and not been declared bankrupt, had a CCJ or an IVA within the last 6 years. |
Santander was highly commended in our 2023 customer satisfaction awards for personal loans, coming in at 3rd for overall satisfaction.
However, on Trustpilot, Santander has only achieved a 1.4 rating from over 6,200 reviews. Negative customer reviews cite bad customer service experiences and difficulties with resolving issues. Those who gave 5 stars were happy with the efficiency of the customer service teams they were in contact with (updated August 2023).
To talk about Santander’s personal loans, you can use its online chat in the app or alternatively call them on 0330 123 9860.
Once you’ve compared loans, checked the eligibility criteria and decided that Santander offers the personal loan option that works best for you, you’re good to go. You’re need the following to apply:
You can apply online or in person. If you choose to apply in person, booking an appointment online in advance is a good idea so you don’t have to wait too long at your local branch.
Overall, Santander’s existing customer personal loans are a solid option for people looking for an unsecured loan. Santander offers a standard range of loan amounts and loan terms with the ability to overpay without penalty. However, for those wanting to pay off their loan in full, there is an early settlement figure to consider. Being an existing customer gives you the opportunity of taking out a loan of up to £25,000 more than a new customer could. Mixed customer reviews for Santander highlight varying opinions about the services it provides, though our own surveys found Santander to be highly recommended by customers.
Both new and existing customers can get a personal loan with Santander. Read more about its competitive rates, application process and eligibility criteria.