Banking group Santander UK Plc's profits fell 40% to £993m in the year to December 2011. The group set aside £538m to deal with compensation claims for mis-sold payment protection insurance (PPI). Excluding this provision, profits fell 6% to £1.5bn. The bank expects 2012 to be a difficult year for the banking industry.

Lloyds Banking Group have appointed of Sara Weller as a non-executive director.  Ms Weller will join the Board with effect from 1 February 2012 and will serve as a member of the Remuneration and the Risk Committees.  Truett Tate, Executive Director for Wholesale, has decided to retire from the Group at the Annual General Meeting in May 2012 and will therefore not seek re-election. Sir Winfried Bischoff is Chairman.

Nationwide Building Society has awarded Communisis Plc, the Leeds based marketing services provider, a new contract and Communisis now have 15 on-site staff at Nationwides Swindon site in creative and marketing communication services.

RBS Invoice Finance has appointed Mark Clayton as new Regional Managing Director for the Royal Bank of Scotlands London and South East division. Mr Clayton will be responsible for a team based out of local offices across the region. Martin Morrin is Managing Director of RBS Invoice Finance.