Santander consolidates 48m account into Carat

Carat has retained the consolidated £48m media planning and buying account for Santander brands Abbey, Bradford & Bingley and Alliance & Leicester. The Aegis-owned agency was the incumbent on both the Abbey and A&L accounts.

It pitched against Universal McCann and Arena BLM. Starcom was involved at an earlier stage, while OMD withdrew from the pitch in November. B&B incumbent Mediacom North was not involved.

The pitch was called following Santander’s acquisition of A&L along with the savings and branch business of B&B. Carat won the Abbey media account in November 2005.

The review was led by Abbey brand and communications director Keith Moor, whose remit was expanded to straddle all three brands earlier this month (MW December 4).

Yesterday (December 18), EU competition authorities approved Santander’s acquisition of Bradford & Bingley’s savings arm.