Santander Bank Unveils Second U.S. Work Café in Miami, Florida

Rhea-AI Summary

Santander Bank announced the opening of its second U.S. Work Café in Coconut Grove, Miami, with a grand opening celebration scheduled for June 7, 2024. The space is designed to be an innovation hub for local businesses and the community, offering private meeting rooms, complimentary Wi-Fi, and refreshments. The Bank will also make a $100,000 contribution to the Small Business Development Center at Florida International University. The initiative is part of Santander's strategy to transform into a leading national, digital bank with branches, providing enhanced personal and digital banking experiences.

Positive

• Opening of second U.S. Work Café in a vibrant community.
• Grand opening event to foster community engagement.
• A $100,000 contribution to the Small Business Development Center at FIU.
• Enhanced digital and in-person banking experiences.
• Support for small businesses and entrepreneurs via the Work Café model.
• Complementary amenities such as Wi-Fi, coffee, and snacks.
• Recognized as Community Partner of the Year by the SBDC at FIU.
• Commitment to ongoing free networking events and programming.
• Expansion of a globally popular Work Café model.

Negative

• Possible high operational costs for maintaining the Work Café.
• Potential risk of low customer adoption of the new café model.
• Uncertain ROI on the $100,000 contribution to the SBDC at FIU.
• Increased competition from other banks offering similar co-working spaces.

Grand opening celebration to take place on Friday, June 7, 2024, from 3 – 7 p.m. ET

The Bank will present a $100,000 contribution to the Small Business Development Center at Florida International University

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Santander Bank, N.A. (“Santander Bank” or “the Bank”) announced the opening of its second Work Café in the United States, located at 3036 Grand Avenue in the heart of Coconut Grove, Miami’s oldest neighborhood, known for its bayside views and vibrant community. The Work Café is intended to serve as an innovation hub for local businesses and the broader community.

Santander Bank unveils second U.S. Work Café in Miami, Florida. (Photo: Business Wire)

“The South Florida region is an integral component of the Bank’s multiyear strategy to transform into a leading national, digital bank with branches. We’re excited to bring more than just banking to the Coconut Grove community. Our new Work Café provides a relaxed environment where customers, local business owners and entrepreneurs can seek personalized financial guidance or simply work, take meetings or develop their next big project,” said Patrick Smith, Head of Consumer & Business Banking at Santander Bank. “This space is an extension of our commitment to people and businesses throughout the communities we serve. The Work Café offers them the space they need to prosper.”

Open to the public, the Coconut Grove Work Café is an inviting co-working space inclusive of private meeting rooms that are fully equipped with the latest tech capabilities to foster collaboration. Along with expertise provided by the Santander Bank team, customers and non-customers can enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi, a cup of coffee, latte or espresso from the premium self-serve amenity bar as well as snacks sourced from nonprofit organizations and women-owned businesses. As customers continue to prefer a digital-first experience, Santander Bank will provide enhanced onsite personal engagement by Work Café team members, who can offer side-by-side assistance to customers utilizing mobile and ATM capabilities for everyday deposits and withdrawals.

“The opening of this Work Café underscores the Bank’s efforts to provide a digital-first customer experience within our retail locations and allows our team members to spend more time providing personal assistance and guidance,” said Yajaira Lopez, Head of Branch Banking at Santander Bank. “Whether it’s a traditional branch, Santander Financial Center or Work Café, we’re tailoring our in-person experience to customer preferences. Combined with our leading digital capabilities, we’re equipped to help customers bank anytime, anywhere.”

Coconut Grove is home to the second Santander Work Café in the United States, joining the first location in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. Because of its collaborative nature and seamless connectivity, the Work Café model is popular across the Bank’s global footprint. Since its introduction in Chile in 2016, Santander Work Cafés have spread to more than 200 locations in nine countries including the United Kingdom, United States, Brazil, Mexico, Chile and Spain.

Santander Bank will celebrate the opening of the Coconut Grove Work Café on Friday, June 7, 2024, from 3-7 p.m. ET. In addition to live music from local band French Horn Collective, Miami-based artist ABSTRK will be working on a project live at the Work Café. Miami food and beverage vendors who have participated in Santander US’ signature Cultivate Small Business program, including Casa Gioia, SmokeHouse Miami, Koffeeology, and Gelato Gourmet, will be onsite to provide sweet treats, small bites, coffee and gelato. Guests can also view F1 Ferrari Memorabilia.

As part of its commitment to small businesses and entrepreneurs, the Bank will present a $100,000 contribution to the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Florida International University (FIU) during the grand opening, representing an ongoing commitment to the Cultivate Small Business program in the region to provide Miami-Dade small businesses with the expertise they need to take their company to the next level.

Santander Bank was recently recognized as Community Partner of the Year by the SBDC at FIU during National Small Business Week for its work with the Center through the Cultivate Small Business program, which supports early-stage entrepreneurs in the food industry with education, networking and capital grants.

In addition to the grand opening, Coconut Grove Work Café will host free networking events and programming throughout the year designed to help local businesses and the community.

About Santander Bank, N.A.

Santander Bank, N.A. is one of the country’s leading retail and commercial banks, with $102 billion in assets. With its corporate offices in Boston, the Bank’s more than 5,100 employees and more than 1.8 million customers are principally located in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. The Bank is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Madrid-based Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE: SAN), recognized as one of the world’s most admired companies by Fortune Magazine in 2024, with approximately 166 million customers in the U.S., Europe, and Latin America. It is overseen by Santander Holdings USA, Inc., Banco Santander’s intermediate holding company in the U.S. For more information on Santander Bank, please visit www.santanderbank.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240528833968/en/

Media Contact:

Victoria Day

victoria.day@santander.us

Source: Santander Bank, N.A.

FAQ

What is Santander Bank's new initiative in Coconut Grove, Miami?

Santander Bank has opened its second U.S. Work Café in Coconut Grove, Miami, designed to serve as an innovation hub for local businesses and the community.

When is the grand opening of Santander's Work Café in Miami?

The grand opening celebration will take place on June 7, 2024, from 3 – 7 p.m. ET.

What contribution is Santander Bank making to the Small Business Development Center at FIU?

Santander Bank will present a $100,000 contribution to the Small Business Development Center at Florida International University.

What amenities does the Santander Work Café in Miami offer?

The Work Café offers private meeting rooms, complimentary Wi-Fi, and refreshments like coffee and snacks.

Why is Santander opening a Work Café in Miami?

The Work Café is part of Santander's strategy to transform into a leading national, digital bank with branches, providing both digital and personalized banking experiences.