LONDON, March 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

• iPhone/iPad app also updated with new features

Santander has launched a brand new mobile banking app for customers who use Android smartphones and tablets, including the Kindle Fire, as well as updating the iPhone/iPad app the bank originally launched in January 2012.

The new apps provide a secure service for banking on the go, including a helpful single platform where customers can see information for all their Santander current accounts, savings and credit cards.  The apps are available from the Apple App Store and the Android store (Google Play) and free to all of Santander's personal banking customers.

Once customers have enrolled into Online Banking using a desktop or laptop, they will have access to a whole range of services via their mobile phone.

App features for customers

• Pay bills or make other payments to existing payees set up using Online Banking at a desktop or laptop
• Check balances and latest transactions for current accounts, savings, credit card and Flexi mortgages
• Transfer money between Santander accounts
• Make payments to existing payees and amend and cancel pending payments 
• View and set up account alerts
• SMS or email a copy of transactions or split a bill between friends
• Locate a branch anywhere in the UK and obtain walking or driving directions and timings
• Send a copy of a transaction to friends to ask them for their contribution.

Adrian Homer, head of mobile at Santander, said: "We want to make banking with Santander as easy and convenient as possible for our customers, wherever they are in the world, and we've spent considerable time developing our mobile banking service and apps for Android and iPhone and iPad with this in mind.  Customers will be able to do almost as much on their mobile phone as they can with our full online banking service with the flexibility of using their smartphone, wherever they are."

Online Banking Guarantee

Santander's Online Banking Guarantee also applies to customers using Mobile Banking, (via any Internet enabled phones) and this confirms that in the unlikely event funds are taken from a customer's account without permission, Santander will pay back any loss incurred from fraud, up to the value of the amount fraudulently taken.*

Account servicing

In addition, customers will be able to view two years' transaction history, build a seven-year library of their statements in digital form and transfer money between their Santander accounts with a quick transfer tool.

The information contained in our press releases is intended solely for journalists and should not be used by consumers to make financial decisions.

Notes to editors

* Online Banking Guarantee

Santander's online banking guarantee states: "Be assured that your money is safe when you bank online [or using your mobile phone], thanks to our Online Banking Guarantee. In the unlikely event funds are taken from your account without permission, we will pay back any loss incurred from fraud, up to the value of the amount fraudulently taken. All we ask is that you have not acted fraudulently yourself or without reasonable care to keep your security information safe. For more information about preventing fraud please visit our online banking security page."

About us

Santander UK plc is a full-service retail and commercial bank providing services to 25 million customers, with almost 1,200 branches and 35 regional business centres.   It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Banco Santander.   Santander UK plc manages its affairs autonomously, with its own local management team, responsible solely for its performance.   Santander UK is firmly focused on the UK with c. 99% of customer assets UK-related and c. 85% of customer loans consisting of prime residential mortgages to UK customers.   The total balance sheet remains UK focused, with a minimal net exposure after collateral to eurozone periphery countries only amounting to c. 0.4% of total assets.

Santander UK is subject to the full supervision of the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in the UK. Santander UK plc customers are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) in the UK.

Banco Santander (SAN.MC, STD.N, BNC.LN) is a retail and commercial bank, based in Spain, with a presence in 10 main markets. Santander is the largest bank in the euro zone by market capitalization. Founded in 1857, Santander had EUR 1.388 trillion in managed funds, 102 million customers, 14,392 branches - more than any other international bank - and 187,000 employees at the close of 2012. It is the largest financial group in Spain and Latin America. It also has significant positions in the United Kingdom, Portugal, Germany, Poland and the northeast United States. Santander had a pre-provision profit of EUR 23.559 billion in 2012, an increase of 2% from the previous year.