Ex Santander employee: if the Spanish part need funding,then they normally move money across from the UK business to shore up the accounts. They will never release this info to the public domain. If I were u keep only what the FSA garuntee, northern rock is more safe than Santander at present. Think about it Spain will possibly leave the euro, there will a run on people taking their money out, which will then will leave Spanish banks unsafe as no actual liqudity to work with, potential bail out or collapse like LEHMANS! U decide and pass on info to the general public as they have a right to know. What the branch tell u is what is given to them by H.O, they don't know anything else just like LEHMANS, remember they are targeted to make sales, retain money or lose their jobs, culture of banking!