NatWest vs Santander:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Santander had more branded searches than NatWest among banks in the United Kingdom. Santander had about 2.1 million branded searches, while NatWest had 1 million. Santander made up 20.9% of all bank searches we track, and NatWest accounted for 10.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about banks, NatWest and Santander each appeared in one of the five answers. NatWest and Santander were each mentioned first in one of the two answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Santander, about 2 searches for every 1 for NatWest
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 1 of 5 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
Each is named first in 1 of 2 answers.
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Top banks in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, NatWest was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Santander was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. NatWest and Santander were each listed first in one of the two answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Barclays1st
First Direct2nd
Starling Bank3rd
Monzo4th
HSBC5th
Chase UK6th
Nationwide7th
Lloyds Bank8th- Santander9th
NatWest10th- +2 more
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Barclays4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- HSBC4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- First Direct4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Monzo3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Starling Bank3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Nationwide2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Chase UK2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Lloyds Bank1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Santander1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- NatWest1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about banks
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which bank should I open a current account with in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best banks in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best UK bank account for switching incentives?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“bank account”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best bank account”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United Kingdom on October 22, 2026.
Share of searches by month for Santander, NatWest. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Lloyds Bank | Santander | Barclays | NatWest | HSBC | Nationwide | Halifax | Monzo | First Direct | TSB | Starling Bank | Chase UK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 33.1% | 18.4% | 12.8% | 13.3% | 9.5% | 4% | 3.9% | 1.8% | 1.6% | 0.97% | 0.65% | 0.18% |
| Nov 2025 | 33.6% | 19.6% | 13.7% | 11.5% | 8.5% | 4.2% | 3.6% | 1.9% | 1.7% | 0.85% | 0.7% | 0.15% |
| Dec 2025 | 30.5% | 21.2% | 12.7% | 12.2% | 8.8% | 5.5% | 3.8% | 1.6% | 1.8% | 1.1% | 0.6% | 0.15% |
| Jan 2026 | 31.4% | 23% | 12.8% | 10.8% | 7.8% | 4.8% | 3.4% | 2.2% | 1.9% | 0.97% | 0.8% | 0.22% |
| Feb 2026 | 31.1% | 22.7% | 12.7% | 10.7% | 7.7% | 5.9% | 3.3% | 2.1% | 1.9% | 0.96% | 0.79% | 0.22% |
| Mar 2026 | 31% | 21.1% | 13.9% | 11.7% | 8.5% | 4.3% | 3.9% | 1.9% | 1.7% | 1.1% | 0.71% | 0.19% |
| Apr 2026 | 30.6% | 21.5% | 12% | 11.5% | 8.2% | 6.4% | 3.9% | 1.9% | 1.7% | 1.3% | 0.85% | 0.18% |
| May 2026 | 30.7% | 22% | 11.9% | 10% | 7.2% | 8.2% | 3.8% | 2% | 1.8% | 1.4% | 0.74% | 0.19% |
| Jun 2026 | 31.3% | 21.8% | 13% | 12.5% | 7.4% | 4.6% | 3.6% | 2.1% | 1.8% | 0.93% | 0.76% | 0.16% |
| Jul 2026 | 32% | 22.3% | 13.3% | 10.4% | 7.5% | 4.7% | 4% | 2.1% | 1.9% | 0.95% | 0.77% | 0.2% |
| Aug 2026 | 32.4% | 21.9% | 13.5% | 10.6% | 7.5% | 4.8% | 3.1% | 2.6% | 1.6% | 1.2% | 0.78% | 0.16% |
| Sep 2026 | 35.9% | 20.9% | 12.8% | 10.1% | 7.3% | 4.5% | 2.6% | 2.5% | 1.5% | 0.91% | 0.75% | 0.14% |
How has the NatWest and Santander comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Santander was ahead of NatWest in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, NatWest’s share of searches among banks in the United Kingdom moved from 13.3% to 10.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.5M to 1M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Santander’s share of searches among banks in the United Kingdom moved from 18.4% to 20.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 2.1M.
How did search popularity change for United Kingdom banks in September 2026?
2 changes
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using NatWest’s and Santander’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
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