Santander Bank is looking forward to sign up a joint venture with China Construction Bank (CCB).

The Santander Bank, which is the largest bank in the eurozone, has refused to give any statement, however, some sources told reporters that the joint venture will focus on rural banking and car financing as well.

According to some national media, “The joint financial holding company will likely have an initial capital of US$439 million, rising to US$732 million in three years.”

Credit card holders who are planning a trip to Spain may be pleased to hear that Santander is planning to make all of its ATMs in the nation free for Santander United Kingdom bank account clientss.

While talking to reporters, the credit card provider Santander said that no other international bank offers free access to ATMs abroad to British people.

Debit and Credit card holders with a Santander bank account will be to draw money from the ATMs without extra charge from January 11th.

This could add up to significant savings with extra funds to be spent on holiday treats.

An apex court in Spain has announced a decision in which it has sentenced the chief executive of the country’s biggest bank, Santander, to six months in prison for making false accusations against its shareholder around 15 years ago.

According to the court, it has found Alfredo Saenz carried out the deception when he was head of the bank subsidiary Banesto. Moreover, Banesto has announced that it will appeal the sentence.

However, Seanz is not expected to serve any time in prison as he was no prior convictions.

Spain’s Santander, the banking group owned by Britain’s Abbey, Alliance & Leicester and Bradford & Begley, will next year roll out a no-fees current account without any charges for overdraft use or access to foreign ATMs.

According to the banking group, the account named as the Santander Zero Current Account will only be accessible to customers who take out a mortgage with Santander and will be launched to coincide with the re-branding of over 1,000 Abbey and Bradford & Bingley branches in January 2010.