Hostile sales environment and no stability - Dealer Dev Specialist Santander Employee Review

1.0
Mar 5, 2013
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

They have an excellent auto finance program that rivals the best on the market. Backed by Banco Santander, this company will be solid for years to come.

Cons

1) Training is more about the company than it is about the position. I had to constantly ask questions about what pertained to my role there. If I hadn't, day 1 on the floor would have been like a chicken with it's head cut off. 2) Constant IT issues that always seem to be "in the works" but never resolved. 3) Territories were a random jumble of dealerships across the country, so there was no defined sales territory which made it very frustrating in trying to game plan. I would call a dealer in NY and then speak to a dealer in TX. It detracts from the sales person's credibility and makes it impossible to gain traction in any one given territory. 4) Their implementation of forced calls through a queue ruined the experience for a lot of dealers. All the sales guys are on a plan and must perform, but more often than not, someone else in the group would get the call and offer money that would come out of my pocket without asking first, or at the very least, to follow-up and advise what had taken place. 5) Management was very unprofessional in their communications to the floor. Often threats were made in e-mails that left everyone with a sense of discomfort, like someone was holding a gun to your head. 6) Although they pay overtime, you are pretty much forced to work 9+ hrs per day and mandatory Saturdays, even if it wasn't part of your schedule. Management frowned upon those that may have had other obligations.....like a life. 7) The pay is not that great (below average) and they basically want you to catch up the crappy base with OT. The commission structure is also pretty bad and almost impossible to track with any kind of consistency. 8) The fact that there are 7 major drawbacks should be enough for anyone to determine how this company operates....very unethically.

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5.0
Mar 5, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Bonus based on performance. The company always put on events for the employees. Great work environment

Cons

Work long days. And sometimes weekends. Not much room for growth

4.0
Jun 4, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Of all the companies I have worked for, Santander has had the strongest training program. The training was comprehensive, well-structured, and especially valuable for employees who are new to the banking industry. Additionally, Santander's ONE software is by far the most intuitive and user friendly banking platform I have used, making it easy to learn and navigate while supporting efficient daily operations.

Cons

Like most retail banking roles, there is a strong sales component. With fewer customers visiting branches due to online banking and ATMs, much of the day is spent making outbound calls to existing clients, trying to set appointments, and push products and services. While I understand the importance of sales in the industry, I personally felt there was significant pressure to prioritize sales goals over relationship building and client service, which I was not comfortable with.

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