Santander survey reveals nearly 80% of Americans consider lifelong learning important for their professional development.

Santander US today announced a $25 million commitment in support of education, employability and entrepreneurship that will include over $10 million in university grants and national scholarship funding through the Santander Universities program. The scholarship applications will be available later this Summer on Santander Open Academy, a global platform available to anyone around the world that offers 100% free educational content and upskilling tools to improve professional skills and employability.

“The world today is vastly different than it was ten years ago. Continuous learning is imperative to keep up with the pace of change, and we believe that businesses must be a partner in equipping people with the educational tools and resources they need to thrive in today’s society,” said Christiana Riley, Chief Executive Officer and President of Santander US. “The Santander Universities program, which will be inclusive of a new scholarship fund for undergraduate students, and Open Academy, a completely accessible digital education platform, further enables us to empower people with the right skills and resources they need to succeed.”

Santander’s new global workforce report, “Tomorrow’s Skills”, which reflects the views of 15,000 people across 15 countries, finds that college graduates feel better prepared to enter the workforce, with their higher education helping to lay a solid foundation for continued learning and growth. This is viewed as essential for job stability and professional development. The report reveals many Americans feel unprepared for the ever-changing job market, although nearly eight in 10 (78%) believe lifelong learning is important. While there is a desire for ongoing training, cost is cited as the main barrier to acquiring and upgrading skills as an adult. As such, more than half (52%) believe companies should be responsible for creating continuous education opportunities.

Santander has been helping people and businesses prosper for over 28 years through education, employability, and entrepreneurship. The introduction of scholarships and university grants through the Santander Universities program in the U.S. builds on Santander’s commitment to provide open access to world-class resources and a belief that continuously updating skills and knowledge is key to navigating an evolving job market.

In 2024, Santander provided over 2 million students and professionals with access to continuous learning and job opportunities, partnered with more than 1,000 universities, and backed over 50,000 businesses and entrepreneurs.

Additional results from Santander’s “Tomorrow’s Skills” report can be found here.

About Santander US

Santander Holdings USA, Inc. (SHUSA) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Madrid-based Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE: SAN) (Santander), recognized as one of the world’s most admired companies by Fortune Magazine in 2025, with approximately 175 million customers in the U.S., Europe and Latin America. As the intermediate holding company for Santander’s U.S. businesses, SHUSA is the parent company of financial companies with more than 11,300 employees, 4.5 million customers, and assets of $165 billion in the fiscal year ended 2024. These include Santander Bank, N.A., Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc., Banco Santander International, Santander Securities LLC, Santander US Capital Markets LLC and several other subsidiaries. Santander US is recognized as a top 10 auto lender as well as a top 10 multifamily bank lender and servicer, and has a growing wealth management business. For more information about Santander US, please visit www.santanderus.com.

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