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Santander Reduces Its Mortgage Spread Further, To 1.49%

18 March 2015 – Expansión

The second reduction of the year / The entity has decreased its spread over euribor on its mortgages from 1.69% to 1.49%, to match ING’s offer.

Santander has reduced the cost of its mortgage once more to place its product amongst the most attractive in the market, as the all out war continues in the sector. For the second time this year, the group has reduced the interest rate on its home loans: the rate paid (by borrowers) during the first year hereby falls from 2.45% to 2%; and from the second year onwards, the spread over euribor decreases from 1.69% to 1.49%.

With this move, Santander is now positioned in line with the strategy of (many of) its competitors such as ING, Bankia and Bankinter, which have all lowered the spreads on their mortgages to around 1.5% over the last month and a half. However, it does not match the rate of 1% being offered by Kutxabank, the lowest in the sector.

To obtain these conditions, clients must hold various products with the bank. Mortgage holders will have to receive their salaries in their accounts with the entity and they must earn a minimum monthly income of €2,000. In addition, mortgage holders must pay three bills (direct debits) from their Santander accounts, use the bank’s cards, and also take out home and life insurance policies with the entity.

Mortgages have become a key product for Santander in its efforts to achieve its main goal: namely, to increase the loyalty of its customers. Mortgage (marketing) campaigns targeted at individuals and Project Advance, which focuses on SMEs are the ‘hooks’ with which Santander is seeking to attract and retain customers in Spain, which currently number 12.6 million.

The entity’s mortgage portfolio in Spain amounts €47,000 million. Although the new loan book grew by 64% in 20134, its total stock decreased by 5.8% last year, from €50,000 million at the end of 2013.

Santander holds a market share of 10.2% in the mortgage sector in Spain, having gained 0.2 points between January and November 2014, according to the latest data presented by the bank. This falls below its market share of the Spanish loan sector (in general), which amounts to 13.5%.

Original story: Expansión (by M. Martínez)

Translation: Carmel Drake

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