What a mess! - AML Transaction Monitoring Analyst Santander Employee Review

1.0
2 Aug 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I started with Santander in 2020. 5 weeks before lockdown. Sent home with a laptop. I was diagnosed with dyslexia. Took them 9 months to pay for my assessment, which they demanded I take. Took them a further 8 months, 4 mice, 6 keyboards and fighting with occi health to get the correct assistive technology. Within another 3 months I promoted after getting my assistive tech, doubling my wage from S1 to S2 role. Only took the best part of a year to fight daily to get what was necessary for me to do my job to the best of my abilities.

Cons

I was then micromanaged to within an inch of my life. Asked daily if I'd had a lunch break, whilst I'd been working pomodoro for months. Counter productive way to harass staff that were grown adults managing their own time. After almost 5 years, we were invited (non-optional) to a phone call, whether we were on holiday or working, we were told in August that redundancy would begin in October. We'd spent the best part of 6 months training staff in Poland, who didn't know what a sort code was and flagged every account with John Lewis as an at risk account because they didn't know it was a department store. Strangely though, as more people left, they started asking remaining people to stay longer because they didn't have enough people to cater for the workload. They have made over 600 people redundant. Some of which, had been with the bank over 19 years. No Customer Due Diligence, No Name Screening, No Suspicious Activity Reporting Unit, No Onboard and Exiting, No transaction Monitoring. All because they want to move with AI. Have you used the banking app? It's terrible. Which you are forced to open a Santander bank account when you get paid as a coersion or you won't get paid. A union (Advanced) who bullies staff. Poor communication from senior management. One director made rude comments to a member of staff on the day that redundancies were announced, she was found in her car crying. I was told by Jas Narang himself that if we thought we'd have a 150 strong team by this time next year, it was BuLL-$h!t. Disgraceful behaviour by senior management leading up to people leaving. Lies that sending work overseas wasn't a cost saving exercise, after record profits.

Explore other reviews about Santander

5.0
5 Mar 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Bonus based on performance. The company always put on events for the employees. Great work environment

Cons

Work long days. And sometimes weekends. Not much room for growth

4.0
4 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Of all the companies I have worked for, Santander has had the strongest training program. The training was comprehensive, well-structured, and especially valuable for employees who are new to the banking industry. Additionally, Santander's ONE software is by far the most intuitive and user friendly banking platform I have used, making it easy to learn and navigate while supporting efficient daily operations.

Cons

Like most retail banking roles, there is a strong sales component. With fewer customers visiting branches due to online banking and ATMs, much of the day is spent making outbound calls to existing clients, trying to set appointments, and push products and services. While I understand the importance of sales in the industry, I personally felt there was significant pressure to prioritize sales goals over relationship building and client service, which I was not comfortable with.

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