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As of today (1 July), Abbey UK Corporate Banking and Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank have begun to be renamed as Santander Corporate Banking, with their combined network of 20 regional corporate banking centres to be rebranded during the remainder of 2009.

As such, during July the Manchester office will become the first centre to be renamed, followed by Nottingham.

The name change follows confirmation from the Spanish banking giant that, following their acquisitions, Abbey, A&L and Bradford & Bingley (B&B) will all cease to exist under their individual names by the end of 2010.

Steve Pateman, head of Santander Corporate Banking, said: "Santander has a clear strategy of increasing its presence in the UK corporate market and the rebrand to Santander Corporate Banking is a clear demonstration of our ambition to become the bank of choice for businesses."

Pateman added: "We plan to expand our regional network and are recruiting additional relationship managers, giving us the opportunity to develop close relationships with local businesses helping them through some of the challenges they may now face towards longer-term success."

The bank is writing to all existing customers of Abbey UK Corporate Banking and Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank to make them aware of the new brand.