- Partnership with Bionic provides price comparison for businesses, helping them switch providers and deal with renewals
- Energy, phone and broadband services for businesses are included in the Bionic comparison and switching service
Santander UK has launched a partnership with business utilities comparison and switching service Bionic to help businesses save money and time when switching utility provider. The partnership enables businesses that bank with Santander UK to connect1 with Bionic through Santander’s website.
In a survey2 conducted earlier in the year by Santander, 65% of retail businesses reported that the rising cost of living had made it harder to run their business. And 61% of those finding it hard pointed to rising energy costs as a particular problem.
Bionic uses a combination of smart technology and human expertise to match businesses with deals on gas, electricity, broadband and phone providers. With the digital switchover due to be completed in 20253, Bionic is also helping companies avoid disruption to their business by helping them find digital solutions like Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to replace their analogue landlines.
Businesses that want to ensure they are on a suitable deal for energy, for example, can speak to Santander and be connected to Bionic. Using their postcode and a few details, a Bionic expert will compare quotes and find options for business owners to choose from. Bionic will then arrange a contract with the chosen supplier. It offers a similar service to businesses for switching to new deals with broadband and phone service providers.
Darren Whiteley, Head of Product & Proposition, Business Banking at Santander UK said: “The rising cost of living affects every aspect of running a business and it is important that companies do not pay more than necessary for essential utilities, including energy. By partnering with Bionic, we hope to make it easier for businesses to switch to energy, broadband and phone deals that are the best fit for them as well as saving them money. Our connection with Bionic complements our SME Support Toolkit4 which offers businesses a host of free, non-financial resources to support them to continue growing through the challenges presented by the rising cost of living.”
Jules Taylor, Head of Partnerships at Bionic said: "Our vision is to make running a business radically easier. By partnering with Santander UK, we can extend our reach to more businesses, providing them with the information they need to make smarter choices. This partnership represents an exciting opportunity to support businesses across the country."
Bionic has been helping businesses compare and switch business essentials since 2007. It has guided thousands of businesses through the energy crisis and works hard to champion the more than 5.5 million business owners in the UK.
For more information or to arrange to speak to the Bionic team, please visit: https://www.Santander.co.uk/business/business-support/bionic-business-costs-comparison
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The information contained in our press releases is intended solely for journalists and should not be used by consumers to make financial decisions.
Notes to editors
1) Santander UK receives payments from Bionic for connecting it to businesses that go on to take out a product via Bionic.
2) Research was drawn from a survey conducted by OnePoll of 750 UK retail business owners and decision makers on 8-13 February 2023.
3) https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-transition-from-analogue-to-digital-landlines
4) To access Santander UK’s SME Support Toolkit, please visit: https://go.pardot.santander.co.uk/SME-Support-Toolkit
Santander UK is a financial services provider in the UK that offers a wide range of personal and commercial financial products and services. At 30 June 2023, the bank had around 19,400 employees and serves around 14 million active customers, 7 million digital customers via a nationwide 445 branch network, telephone, mobile and online banking. Santander UK is subject to the full supervision of the FCA and the PRA in the UK. Santander UK plc customers’ eligible deposits are protected by the FSCS in the UK.
Banco Santander (SAN SM, STD US, BNC LN) is a leading commercial bank, founded in 1857 and headquartered in Spain. It has a meaningful presence in 10 core markets in the Europe, North America and South America regions, and is one of the largest banks in the world by market capitalization. Santander aims to be the best open financial services platform providing services to individuals, SMEs, corporates, financial institutions and governments. The bank’s purpose is to help people and businesses prosper in a simple, personal and fair way. Santander is building a more responsible bank and has made a number of commitments to support this objective, including raising €220 billion in green financing between 2019 and 2030. In the first half of 2023, Banco Santander had €1.25 trillion in total funds, 164 million customers, 9,000 branches and 212,000 employees.
Bionic is a renowned business comparison expert, providing innovative comparison tools and expert guidance to help businesses make informed decisions. Bionic's comprehensive range of services covers various sectors, including energy, telecommunications, and more, enabling businesses to find the best deals and save valuable time. Bionic not only aims to save businesses time and money, but also works to provide owners with the knowledge to grow and maintain their businesses. From salons and independent gyms to coffee roasters and upholstery shops, Bionic takes care of switching essentials, so owners can focus on what matters, running their businesses.