10 Best European Bank Stocks to Buy Now

2. Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE:SAN)

Market Capitalization: $163.52 billion

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 18

Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE:SAN) is one of the best European bank stocks to buy now. On November 6, Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE:SAN) issued $2.8 billion in senior non-preferred notes through a multi-tranche offering. The first tranche consists of $300 million floating-rate notes due 2030. The other two tranches are $1.25 billion apiece; one is a 4.551% fixed-rate note due 2030, paying semi-annually, and the other is a 5.127% fixed-rate note due 2035, also paying semi-annually.

Earlier on November 4, Banco Santander SA launched a new digital platform designed to address regulatory barriers. Navigator Global is the platform designed to connect trader partners and market intelligence across international markets. Launched in the UK, the platform is poised to go live in the US and into other markets. Navigator Global is set to replace a UK-only platform that operated between 2021 and 2025, supporting 2,500 businesses. The new platform is to come with enhanced capabilities, including a trade tool capable of creating unique action plans for international trade.

This move follows a strong financial performance in Q3 2025, which the bank announced on October 29. Santander’s quarterly profit touched a new record, coming in at €3.5 billion. Revenue reached ​€17.81 billion, surpassing the expected €17.75 billion. Though robust, the €0.2566 EPS delivered a negative surprise of 1.65%.

In terms of operations, Santander added 7 million new customers year-on-year, bringing its total to 178 million globally. The lender also improved its efficiency ratio to 41.3%, its best in over 15 years. Santander’s success was supported by its focus on digital transformation and tighter cost controls. Despite a tough interest rate backdrop, the bank continued to hold its competitive position across a range of markets compared with prior quarters.

Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE:SAN) is Spain’s largest bank and one of Europe’s leading financial institutions. It operates across retail banking, corporate banking, investment banking, and consumer finance, serving more than 176 million customers worldwide.