BOSTON, MA & VILLANOVA, PA — Santander US (NYSE: SAN) has entered a multi-year partnership with Villanova University Athletics that names the bank the official retail banking partner of the program and includes a $1 million grant to fund scholarships for 50 Villanova student-athletes.
The agreement aligns Santander with one of the nation’s most prominent collegiate athletics brands while extending the company’s broader push to invest in education and workforce readiness. The scholarship funding is part of a previously announced $13 million commitment Santander is distributing across more than 30 U.S. colleges and universities during 2025 and 2026.
The Villanova partnership was developed in collaboration with Playfly Sports, the exclusive multimedia rights partner for Villanova Athletics. Financial terms beyond the scholarship grant were not disclosed.
Christiana Riley, president and chief executive officer of Santander US, said the partnership reflects the bank’s strategy of pairing brand engagement with long-term investments in education and career development. She said the initiative is designed to expand access to education, resources, and skills needed to succeed in a changing labor market.
The Villanova grant also fits within Santander’s broader $25 million commitment to education, employability, and entrepreneurship initiatives. That effort includes Open Academy, a nonprofit platform that offers free training programs focused on skills in demand across the labor market.
Villanova Vice President and Director of Athletics Eric Roedl said the partnership will help deepen academic and career opportunities for student-athletes. He said the additional resources are intended to support success both during college and beyond athletic competition.
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