Company: BCDRF
Filing Date: 2025-02-28
Form Type: 20-F
Source: 0000891478-25-000054
Chunk: 950

Company: Banco Santander, S.A.
Filing Date: 2025-02-28
Form: 20-F
Chunk 950
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 day-to-day supervision by external consultants and ultimately the revocation of our banking license.

We have been, and may in the future be, subject to negative coverage in the media about us or our clients, including with respect to alleged conduct such as failure to detect and/or prevent any financial crime activities or comply with FCC regulations. Negative media coverage of this type about us, whether it has merit or not, could materially and adversely affect our reputation and perception among current and potential clients, investors, vendors, partners, regulators and other third parties, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, financial condition and prospects as well as damage our customers’ and investors’ confidence and the market price of our securities.

The reputational damage to our business and global brand could be severe if we were found to have breached AML/CFT, anti-bribery and corruption or sanctions requirements. Our reputation could also suffer if we are unable to protect our customers’ bank products and services from being used by criminals for illegal or improper purposes.

In addition, while we review our relevant counterparties’ internal policies and procedures with respect to such matters, we expect our relevant counterparties to maintain and properly apply their own appropriate compliance procedures and internal policies. Such measures, procedures and internal policies may not be completely effective in preventing third parties from using our (and our relevant counterparties’) services as a conduit for illicit purposes (including illegal cash transactions) without our (and our relevant counterparties’) knowledge. If we are associated with, or even accused of being associated with, breaches of AML/CFT, anti-bribery and corruption or sanctions requirements, our reputation could suffer and/or we could become subject to fines, sanctions and/or legal enforcement (including being added to ‘watch lists' that would prohibit certain parties from engaging in transactions with us), any one of which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, financial condition and prospects.

Any such risks could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, financial condition and prospects.

See also risk factor '2.1.2 We are subject to extensive regulation and regulatory and governmental oversight which could adversely affect our business, operations and financial condition - US Significant Regulation - Anti-Money Laundering and economic sanctions'.

2.1.6 Changes in taxes and other assessments may adversely affect us.

The legislatures and tax authorities in the tax jurisdictions in which we operate regularly enact reforms to the tax and other assessment regimes to which we and our customers are subject. Such reforms include changes in tax rates