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Santander: Loan reviews

View other Santander products
2.40
Based on 56 reviews, last reviewed 28th May 2025
No new 5 star reviews
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No new 1 star reviews
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7%
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7%
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55%

Latest highest rating:

5

Quick and easy application approval. Quick and easy application approval. Bit fiddly to make overpayments Reviewed on: 11th March 2025
Claire K's avatar
Claire K

Latest lowest rating:

1

Title: After 5 years of loyalty, Santander turne... Title: After 5 years of loyalty, Santander turned their back on me when I needed them the most. I’ve been a loyal customer of Santander for over 5 ye... Read more Reviewed on: 28th May 2025
Vincenzo Fiore's avatar
Vincenzo Fiore
Read all reviews See your review

About this product

Santander personal loan reviews on Smart Money People are honest reviews. If you're trying to determine whether this is the right personal loan for you, reading our Santander personal loan reviews can help you to find out what other people have to say. Smart Money People launched in October 2014 to help people like you to find the best personal loans. If you have used a Santander personal loan, we'd love you to write a quick review too.

Santander Loan reviews (56)

Review of the Santander, Loan:

Abysmal Support, Service and Communication

1
Locked out of account with no warning and told the only way to rectify is to call them. Called them but they wouldn’t talk to me as they told me my date of birth was not the same as that on my account. Absolutely mystifying considering I supplied a passport etc to open the account and I know the date I was born. This raises major concerns around whether they are complying with their anti money-laundering obligations as if they are not checking the detail of the ID’s provided when opening accounts then how are they verifying and transcribing the personal data contained therein? Where has the incorrect DOB come from? How was this verified by the bank’s internal processes and why has it not been simply checked and rectified against the existing data they already hold? What else have they got wrong and what could be the consequences? If they can’t get a DOB correct from simple documentation provided in support of opening an account, what on Earth are they capable of getting wrong? And not only this, but their shoddy internal practices do nothing to audit, verify or check they have appropriately complied with their legal obligations in transcribing/verifying the information provided. This is somehow left to the customer to do as a “third party that has failed security” by giving the correct information which they are unwilling to verify against their info. Had me questioning my sanity then their customer service constantly slopey shouldered me to various other departments (on hold for over an hour). Was told that they would not speak to me about anything (account, SAR, making a complaint, rectifying the issue with appropriate ID (passport I had to hand)) and that I should take time off to go to a branch to try and resolve it there. I have huge concerns over my personal data and how it is handled at Santander. The accuracy of the data is obviously incorrect and I have contacted the Financial Ombudsman and the ICO about the issue. Santander said that I was asking questions a fraudster would though I didn’t request absolutely any account information (I provided them all that on the phone (Including personal ID numbers, security numbers, pins) but again to no avail). I queried where I had agreed that a DOB (incorrect or otherwise on their system) was to be used as an access authorization given all of the other information I had to hand. I cannot understand how the DOB can possibly differ from the documentation I originally provided in setting up the account or why that data couldn’t be checked. They refused to check the account info against the ID used to set up the account for reasons unknown. Also refused to provide names of who I was speaking to or to take what I was saying seriously. I was only told that if I was locked out of the account (which I have never withdrawn from so it holds a very large sum of money) then I had either: > Entered the pin / passcode incorrectly three times (I have never used a passcode and only use a fingerprint for the app); or > A very large sum of money had been withdrawn from the account. .. I cannot ensure that there has been no fraudulent activity on the account because I have no way of accessing it but they have strongly suggested that my life savings may be gone. Makes for a fun day off work tomorrow trying to sort out their absolutely abysmal mistakes. They also said that it was unlikely that the branch will be able to resolve this kind of issue tomorrow! This is in a large ISA and this kind of ineptitude could potentially cost you a house! Totally dreadful. I cannot understand how banks can legally lock you out of your account without any form of communication (even a letter to the account holder or an email explaining that a password reset or similar is required). Instead I’m in the situation where I don’t know if I have lost all the money I own and I have had absolutely no help from Santander. Once resolved I will be closing this account. BEWARE. Reviewed on: 5th March 2020
Dan's avatar
Dan

Had to chace them up

1
Through out the process had to chance them and in the end never got a letter from them which they said would be with me in 3 working days. So went with a different company Reviewed on: 30th June 2017
sam hipwell's avatar
sam hipwell

High APR

2
High APR for existing customers. Reviewed on: 29th June 2017
Chris Burt's avatar
Chris Burt

Won over

5
Key customer needs ticked. If a company can make a process easy, they will win you over. Job done Reviewed on: 22nd June 2017
samuel farmer's avatar
samuel farmer

Not bad at all!!!

5
Applied online while sat in car showroom and within 5 minutes I was accepted. Simple enough form done while I had a cuppa and money was mine before my tea went cold. Was so happy I had another biscuit! Reviewed on: 11th June 2017
Tina Higgins 's avatar
Tina Higgins

Caravan Finance

3
The on line process took several days to get approved then my signed agreement was not received delaying my purchase. Overall dissapointing compared to another loan company. Reviewed on: 7th June 2017
James Ainsworth's avatar
James Ainsworth

Fast efficient and low interest

5
I rang santander to apply for a personal loan on a Tuesday evening. My documents arrived on the Thursday and returned the same day. The money was in my account by lunchtime on Friday. Amazing service Reviewed on: 6th June 2017
Amanda Thomas's avatar
Amanda Thomas

Unfriendly company

1
When I was looking for a loan they gave the impression that they are the bank that likes to say no straight away just because you don't bank with them Reviewed on: 6th June 2017
Anonymous's avatar
Anonymous

Unfriendly company

1
When I was looking for a loan they gave the impression that they are the bank that likes to say no straight away just because you don't bank with them Reviewed on: 6th June 2017
Anonymous's avatar
Anonymous

Decent service

3
Overall loan process could be quicker. Reviewed on: 8th May 2017
Steven Murray's avatar
Steven Murray

Personal loan experience

4
We have had a loan from Santander for coming up to 4 1/2 years. The application process was simple, decision was quick and we felt at the time we had a good deal. We could probably get a better rate now, however the loan finishes soon so we haven't looked around to switch loans, repayment penalties would be highly too. We would get another loan from Santander and would recommend them too. Reviewed on: 7th May 2017
Collette Dunn's avatar
Collette Dunn

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