The Boston-based retail bank Santander Holdings USA Inc. announced Thursday that a longtime in-house attorney at M&T Bank will become its next chief legal officer.

Brian Yoshida will become chief legal officer effective May 4 and oversee all legal operations for Santander’s U.S. businesses. Yoshida will also oversee the bank’s U.S. government relations, public policy and regulatory functions. He will report directly to Tim Wennes, CEO of Santander US. It is not clear if Yoshida will be based in the bank’s Boston headquarters.