The move will result in the bank's network of 20 regional corporate banking centres being rebranded during the remainder of 2009.
The change follows last month's announcement that Santander's three UK businesses, Abbey, Alliance & Leicester and Bradford & Bingley Savings, will adopt the Santander global brand and name in 2010.
Steve Pateman, Head of Santander Corporate Banking, said: "Santander has a clear strategy of increasing its presence in the UK corporate market and the rebrand to Santander Corporate Banking is a clear demonstration of our ambition to become the bank of choice for businesses.
"By bringing together the local knowledge of Alliance & Leicester's regional corporate banking centres, the specialist sector knowledge of Abbey's corporate banking teams and Santander's credibility as one of the strongest and best capitalised banks in the world, we can provide customers with a very compelling banking service.
"We are building a business that has relationship banking at its heart. We are committed to building strong relationships based on an understanding of the business and its needs, providing them with solutions and services that fit those needs. We plan to expand our regional network and are recruiting additional relationship managers, giving us the opportunity to develop close relationships with local businesses helping them through some of the challenges they may now face towards longer-term success."
Steve concludes: "Santander already has a successful corporate and commercial banking model, which focuses on its customer relationships and taking prudent and sensible commercial risks. By adopting this global approach we believe the opportunity exists to really grow our UK SME business significantly in 2009 and beyond."
During July, Manchester will become the first centre to be renamed, followed by Nottingham.
The bank is writing to all existing customers of Abbey UK Corporate Banking and Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank to make them aware of the new brand. For further information on the full range of services available from Santander Corporate Banking, business owners and finance directors should visit www.ukcorporatebanking.com.
