Santander is to close 140 branches, putting 1,270 jobs at risk, the Spanish-owned bank said.The lender said the closures are in response to how customers are choosing to carry out their banking. Santander has consulted unions on the proposed changes and will seek to find alternative roles for the 1,270 staff members affected, wherever possible. The bank expects to be able to redeploy around a third of that number. Susan Allen, Santander’s head of retail and business banking, said: “The way our customers are choosing to bank with us has changed dramatically in recent years, with more and more customers using online and mobile channels. “As a result, we have had to take some very difficult decisions over our less-visited branches, and those where we have other branches in close proximity. More ...... https://uk.yahoo.com/finance/news/santander-branch-closures-spanish-owned-101010907.html

The government plans to close 91 courts and tribunals across England and Wales, and integrate or merge 31 more. The Law Society want your views and case studies to help formulate thier consultation response. Please complete our short survey to let us know how you will be affected. Their interactive map shows the courts affected by the proposals, where the work would move to and how long it would take by public transport to get to the alternative courts. https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/news/stories/court-closures-we-want-your-views/

Supermarket giant Tesco has named the 43 stores it is closing across the country, a move that will see 2,000 staff lose their jobs. The company is currently informing staff at the affected stores. The Express and Home Plus stores will close on 15 March with the Tesco Metros and Superstores on the list closing on 4 April. Tesco warned earlier this month that 43 stores would be shut as part of plans to cut costs. Tesco chief executive Dave Lewis said the decision to close the stores was "exceptionally difficult". "Our priority is to explain what this announcement means for our colleagues and, wherever possible, offer them alternative roles with Tesco," he added. Superstore closures include those in Doncaster and Chatham, while the DIY and homeware Homeplus closures include stores in Edinburgh and Southampton. In total, 18 Express, 12 Metro, seven superstores and six Homeplus stores are shutting their doors. Troubled Tesco 43 unprofitable stores to be closed £250m of cost cuts planned 49 planned new stores to be cancelled 0.3% fall in like-for-like store sales over the six-week Christmas period Source: TescoPA The move follows two successive years of falling sales and profits, and a shock accounting scandal, which saw the chain overstate its profits by some £263m. Mr Lewis, who joined the retail giant from consumer goods firm Unilever just five months ago, has pledged to slash costs and sell assets to fund lower prices and mend Tesco's finances. Retail union Usdaw said the store closures were "devastating news" for the 2,000 staff involved. "Our priority is to maximise employment within Tesco, seek redeployment opportunities for members, where possible, and to keep job losses to a minimum," said Pauline Foulkes from the union. Tesco's announcement marks a stark contrast to Tuesday's update from Waitrose that detailed plans to create 2,000 jobs in new shops and by expanding existing sites. The retailer is opening 14 new shops from spring this year, seven of them smaller convenience outlets. However, of the so-called "big four" supermarkets, which includes Tesco as well as Sainsbury's, Morrisons and Asda, most are shelving expansion plans or even closing stores. In November, Sainsbury's said it was scrapping plans for new stores, while Morrissons plans to close 10 loss-making stores this year. Tesco store closures Tesco Express stores: Bearwood Belvedere Church Street Ballymena Heaton Chapel Heybridge Essex Houghton Regis Liverpool Kensington Longbridge Road Barking Northfield Birmingham Raymouth Lane Worksop Sheffield Manor South Tottenham High Road Tredegar Troon Walsall Wood Wealdstone Whitley Bay York Road Hartlepool Tesco Metro stores: Bicester Bootle Caerphilly Crossgates Devizes Grangemouth Mexborough Morecambe Ormskirk Runcorn Smethwick Woodseats Tesco Superstores: Bedlington Chatham Connswater Cregagh Road Doncaster Kirkcaldy Wrexham Doods Lane Tesco Homeplus: Bristol Cribbs Chelmsford Chester Edinburgh Southampton Staines