Santander does not issue certificates like the one you may have held with your Abbey National or Alliance and Leicester shares. Instead, your share entitlement is recorded in electronic format in CREST (the UK electronic share clearance and settlement System) as CREST Depositary Interests (CDIs).
CDIs are UK securities that represent a stock traded on an exchange which is based outside of the UK. Because CDIs are UK securities, you can receive dividends in sterling and can buy or sell CDIs easily in the UK.
Each CDI you hold represents one Santander share. You will receive four statements a year which will be made available online via Santander Shareview Portfolio. If you do not log on/activate your Santander Shareview Portfolio, each year one of the four statements will be issued to you in paper form. If you would prefer to receive all four of your statements in the post, please call the automated service on 0333 207 6389*(+44 1274 706525 if calling from outside the UK). You will need your Shareholder Reference.
You can also ask to receive more frequent paper statements (subject to fees), please see your statement on how to request further information including how much this would cost.