(23 June 2026 – Spain) Santander has expanded AI access to all 185,000 global staff and forecasts AI to generate more than €1 billion in business value between 2026 and 2028.
AI is no longer a future conceptual opportunity as the bank reports it generated €35 million in AI-related business value in Q1 2026 and anticipates that figure to surpass €200 million by Q4 2026.
The group has deployed over 280 automation agents as it swiftly shifts from AI ambition to execution.
“One year after setting out our ambition to become a data and AI-first bank, artificial intelligence is already helping us improve how we work, serve customers, manage risk and run the bank. For me, being AI-first means applying AI where it can have tangible impact” commented Banco Santander Chief Data & AI Officer, Ricardo Martín Manjón.
“This is why Santander has set a target of generating more than €1 billion in business value from AI between 2026 and 2028, through a combination of additional revenue and cost reductions. The new measurement period started in 2026, with €35 million in business value generated in Q1. We expect this figure to increase further in the second quarter and are on track to exceed €200 million by year-end, as selected solutions continue to scale across the group.”
“To deliver this, we are focusing on three priorities: making the bank faster, safer and more efficient through areas such as process automation; using AI to open new sources of growth; and helping our people embed AI into their day-to-day work. The logic is simple: focus on fewer things that can truly move the needle, measure their impact and scale what works across the group.”
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has also approved Santander’s application to acquire Connecticut headquartered Webster Bank, with the group expecting the deal to close in H2 2026 to create a US$327 billion-asset US lender.