Has Banco Santander had a publicly reported AI incident?
Yes. As of Oct 21, 2026, the register holds 2 publicly reported AI incidents at Banco Santander since January 2022. The most recent is "Deepfake ads clone Santander chair Ana Botín's voice to push fake investment platforms" (Jul 2025), status: reported, severity 1 of 5. Last swept Oct 21, 2026 (15 queries).
| Date | Institution | Incident | AI? | Role | Category | Severity | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2025 | Banco Santander | Deepfake ads clone Santander chair Ana Botín's voice to push fake investment platforms | ML (inferred) | AI used against the institution | Brand impersonation | 1 | Reported |
| Nov 28, 2024 | Santander UK (Banco Santander), Halifax (Lloyds Banking Group) | BBC reporter's AI-cloned voice passes Santander and Halifax phone-banking Voice ID | ML (inferred) | AI used against the institution | Voice clone | 1 | Confirmed by the institution |
Jul 2025 · AI used against the institution · severity 1/5
Deepfake ads clone Santander chair Ana Botín's voice to push fake investment platforms
In July and August 2025 Spanish fact-checkers reported YouTube and Facebook videos in which an AI-cloned voice of Banco Santander executive chair Ana Botín promoted an investment platform. Maldita.es reported on 31 July 2025 that the Botín clip was built from February 2025 footage and posted by an account registered on 21 July under a newspaper's name. RTVE Verifica reported on 4 August 2025 a fake 'La hora de La 1' segment in which 'Botín' claimed a €250 stake could earn up to €15,000 in the first month and that the project was "backed by Banco Santander". Maldita cited a December 2023 CNMV alert on deepfake investment frauds. No Santander statement or victim losses were reported.
Nov 28, 2024 · AI used against the institution · severity 1/5
BBC reporter's AI-cloned voice passes Santander and Halifax phone-banking Voice ID
BBC You and Yours reporter Shari Vahl reported on 28 November 2024, during BBC Scam Safe Week, that an AI clone of her voice passed the telephone voice-ID checks of both her banks, Santander and Halifax. The clone, made from a radio interview she had given, said "my voice is my password" and got her past authentication to the stage where the system asked the reason for her call; it worked through studio speakers and again through a basic iPad speaker. She called from her registered phone number, so a criminal would also need the victim's phone. Santander said it had "not seen any fraud as a result of the use of voice ID"; Halifax called voice ID an "optional security measure". It was a controlled test with no loss.
Not incidents: precautions and statements with no reported harm.
Entries come from the register of AI incidents at banks: events since January 2022, each sourced to two independent publishers or one official or court document, with the institution's response recorded. A sweep searches news, regulator, court and security sources for the institution by name; its date, query count and result are logged on the register's method section.
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