Santander Bank has laid-off nearly 200 employees in its consumer and business banking units in the US, The Business Journals reported.

In an interview, the Boston-based bank’s head of consumer and business banking Pierre Habis said that the cuts were split evenly between the consumer and business banking personnel.

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The layoffs represent a fraction of the bank’s total workforce of 9,000 employees, the report added.

Habis is overseeing big changes at the business banking division and the layoffs are a result of this move.

Santander spokesperson Laurie Kight said that the employees who were let go and could not find another position at the bank “will be fully supported through our company’s severance policy, and through outplacement assistance.”

Prior to the latest layoffs, the business banking group had 400 employees, of which the bank fired 20 relationship managers.

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Habis said that the business bankers used to operate from the bank’s corporate offices, rather than its retail branches.

However, small business owners used to head to the branches for their banking needs, he said.

Habis said: “Clients came into the branches, and they could not get a hold of a business banker because they were in some high-rise somewhere.

“Even during the pandemic, people still call into a branch. Try looking for somebody on the 16th floor of some building. It is a tough deal.”

As a result, the business bankers will operate from Santander’s branches going forward.

Habis said that Santander is also changing how clients are assigned to a business or commercial banking teams.

Accordingly, small business clients with a credit facility of less than $1m will now be handled by the business bankers, The Business Journals said.

Recently, Santander unveiled new account for its loyal customers in Spain.