UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 1, 2021

Santander Holdings USA, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (617) 346-7200

N/A

(Former name or former address if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.12b-2).

Emerging growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act  ☐

Item 8.01 Other Events

On March 1, 2021, Santander Holdings USA, Inc.’s (the “Company’s”) subsidiary Banco Santander International (“BSI”) entered into an agreement to purchase the Miami private wealth management business of Credit Agricole, S.A.

A copy of BSI’s press release relating to this transaction is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements about the Company’s expectations, beliefs, plans, predictions, forecasts, objectives, assumptions, or future events or performance are not historical facts and may be forward-looking. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words and phrases such as “may,” “could,” “should,” “looking forward,” “will,” “would,” “believes,” “expects,” “hope,” “anticipates,” “estimate,” “intends,” “plans,” “assume,” “goal,” “seek,” “can”, “predicts,” “potential,” “projects,” “continuing,” “ongoing,” and similar expressions. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date on which the statements are made, these statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties which are subject to change based on various important factors and assumptions, some of which are beyond the Company’s control. Among the factors that could cause the Company’s financial performance to differ materially from that suggested by forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the risks and uncertainties described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. If one or more of the factors affecting the Company’s forward-looking information and statements renders forward-looking information or statements incorrect, the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking information and statements. Therefore, the Company cautions the reader not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information or statements herein. The effect of these factors is difficult to predict. Factors other than these also could adversely affect the Company’s results, and the reader should not consider these factors to be a complete set of all potential risks or uncertainties as new factors emerge from time to time. Management cannot assess the impact of any such factor on the Company’s business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statements reflect the current beliefs and expectations of the Company’s management and only speak as of the date of this document, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking information or statements, whether written or oral, to reflect any change, except as required by law. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.