Santander is scrapping its text alerts service from this spring.
This service allows customers to get weekly updates about their bank account balances and transactions, and it also alerts you to other activity, such as if you go over an account limit. You have to sign up for text alerts either online, over the phone, or by visiting a Santander branch. But from May 12, Santander we’ll stop sending certain text alerts.
You will no longer receive a text alert if your account balance goes below or above a limit you’ve set, or if you pay in or take out more money than a limit you’ve set. Santander, which has 14 million UK customers, will also no longer send weekly texts about your account balances and transactions.
But you will still receive alerts if there are changes to your account that could lead to you being charged – for example, if you get close to your overdraft limit or if you enter an unarranged overdraft. Santander says customers can monitor their account activity by registering for online or mobile banking, or by visiting a branch in person.
In a message detailing the change on the Santander website, the bank said: “If you’ve registered for some alerts on a Personal current account or savings account, from 12 May 2025 we’ll stop sending them. We’re doing this because you can get a more detailed view of your account activity with Mobile or Online Banking.”
Frustrated customers have reacted to the news on social media. One person asked: “Why are banks like @santanderuk removing text alerts for low balances etc. Always found it essential to ensure sufficient funds especially if company requested payment early or if delayed for any reason.” Another said: “You sent a text last week saying you are going to stop sending some alerts, like ‘balance falling below a certain amount’. I called to ask why. They couldn’t explain.”
First Direct, sister bank to HSBC, axed text message alerts last summer. Previously, customers used to get a text statement each week along with five recent transactions – but this service stopped from August 10. A spokesperson from First Direct said at the time: “There’s lots of other ways for customers to access information about their account.
“Push notifications are now available to all customers through mobile and online banking, providing detailed and up-to-date information about their balance and transactions in real-time.”
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