Santander Culls WhatsApp From Spanish Investment Bank Phones (1)

Banco Santander SA has removed popular messaging software including WhatsApp from smartphones issued by the company to its investment bankers in Spain, the latest sign of how banks are clamping down on staff communications.

The Spanish lender has recently told the investment banking staff at its Madrid headquarters that unauthorized messaging software needs to be deleted, people familiar with the matter said.

While use of the software had already been banned previously, some employees kept the apps on their phones, raising the possibility they were still using them, the people said. That ultimately prompted the bank to take follow-up action, ...