Alliance & Leicester’s 100 Pounds Cash Bonus Back By Popular Demand For Two Weeks Only

Santander’s (MAD:SAN) (NYSE:STD) Alliance & Leicester is re-introducing its 100 pounds cash bonus for those switching to its Premier Current Account. This follows continued interest in signing up to the deal from customers who missed the deadline for the previous offer.

This latest offer, which comes soon after Alliance & Leicester was named ‘Best Current Account Provider’ at the Moneyfacts Consumer Money Awards, will be available for two weeks only from 30 November until midnight on Sunday 13th December 2009, and is only available online.

Helen Palmer, Head of Current Accounts for Santander’s UK brands said: "Our recent 100 pounds cash back offer proved to be a hit with customers, and we have continued to receive requests from customers looking to switch to our great value Premier Current Account.

"This time-limited offer is good news for those looking to switch their current account, but people must act quickly, as this is available online for two weeks only. Not only will they receive a 100 pounds cash bonus, they will also benefit from one of our great value accounts. This kind of great value is why we have been named ‘Current Account Provider of the Year’ by Moneyfacts.”

Michelle Slade, personal finance expert from Moneyfacts said: "It is important that people make sure they get a good return from their bank. This 100 pounds offer, linked with this very good account does just that. The Consumer Money Awards were voted for by the public, and this offer is exactly why they are ‘Current Account Provider of the Year’.

The Alliance & Leicester Premier Current Account includes:

An interest free overdraft with no usage fees for 12 months (50p per day up to 5 pounds a month thereafter)
0.5 per cent AER/gross in-credit interest on balances up to 2,500 pounds
Free annual European travel insurance.

For more information on the 100 pounds offer and to apply, go online at www.alliance-leicester.co.uk.

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Notes to Editors

1) Alliance & Leicester was named the Moneyfacts Consumer Money Awards ‘Current Account Provider of the Year’ on 9 November 2009.

2) The 100 pounds bonus will be paid to new customers applying for an Alliance & Leicester Premier Current Account from Monday 30 November 2009. The payment will be made within 11 weeks of the account opening if direct debits and standing orders have been transferred using the Account Transfer Service, and the minimum funding requirements are being adhered to.

3) The minimum funding requirement on the Alliance & Leicester’s Premier Current Account is 500 pounds per month.

4) The 100 pounds switching incentive is available to new applicants who do not currently hold any current account with Alliance Leicester, Abbey, Cahoot or Cater Allen, and have not held any current account with them in the three months preceding their application.

About Us
Santander (SAN.MC, STD.N) is a retail and commercial bank, based in Spain, with operations in more than 40 countries. At the end of 2008, Santander was the largest bank in the euro zone by market capitalization and third in the world by profit. Founded in 1857, Santander had EUR 1,168 billion in managed funds at the end of 2008.

In the UK, Santander operates three retail businesses – Abbey, Alliance & Leicester who provide competitive loans and savings products, and Bradford & Bingley. Together they have over 1300 branches, around 4,500 cash machines and they provide a full range of retail and corporate banking services to 24 million customers.

Abbey, Alliance & Leicester and the savings business of Bradford & Bingley will all become known as Santander by the end of 2010. Abbey and the savings business of Bradford & Bingley will be rebranded from the first quarter of 2010 and Alliance & Leicester will follow later in the year. The move will deliver a significant advantage for customers as they will be able to use any of 1,000 Santander branches from early 2010, rising to over 1,300 by the end of 2010. For more information visit http://www.santander.co.uk.

The Bradford & Bingley logo is a trade mark of Bradford & Bingley plc and is used under licence.