Do you like fire drills - Executive Level Santander Employee Review

1.0
Sep 22, 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great coworkers. Fell in love with the Spanish culture. Free parking. Great omelets in the caferteria.

Cons

The expats do not understand the US regulatory culture. This will continue to prove problematic (no way they pass the stress test next year). All software development is done in Spain. No accountability for delays. They are adopting Agile methodologies but it's Agile in name only. Death by meetings. Bottom line: micromanagement culture, late hours, little recognition. They talk the talk but don't follow through. The best way I can describe it is getting hit by a tsunami daily and trying to resolve the issue, getting 80% done and the next tsunami hits. Day after day, month after month. Very stressful.

Explore other reviews about Santander

5.0
Mar 5, 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
Jun 4, 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.

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All