FRANCOFORT, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Spanish bank Santander is the only major bank operating in Germany that has not announced a special payout to its workers to help them cope with rising inflation, union officials told Reuters, although the bank said talks are ongoing.

Last year, Germany's Verdi union called on banks to give some of their lower-paid workers a special payment to help them combat rising energy prices. It demanded €1,500 ($1,623) for 2022 and the same for 2023, prompting many banks to approve extra pay.

Inflation in Europe's largest economy was 8.7% in 2022, driven by the energy crisis, supply shortages and the war in Ukraine.

Madrid-based Spanish bank Santander has 4,300 employees in Germany, about 1,000 of whom work in branches.

"Santander is the big exception among banks, both listed and unlisted," said Stefan Wittmann, head of Verdi, who negotiates on behalf of Santander employees.

"It's the only major player holding out."

On Friday, Santander and union officials agreed to take up the issue at a meeting next week, but the Spanish bank has not made a binding offer, Wittmann said.

Santander said it is holding talks with Verdi about amending its collective bargaining agreement, while demands in the face of inflation came up in talks late last year.

The bank "would like to offer a uniform solution for the whole company in the near future," he said, adding that he is "confident" of reaching a conclusion soon.

Spanish banks, including Santander, as well as the country's two largest unions have agreed to raise salaries for employees in the sector by 4.5% in 2023 over 2022, although in Santander's case it is unclear whether the entire workforce will receive the increase.

($1 = €0.9245)

(Reporting by Tom Sims and Marta Orosz; additional reporting by Jesús Aguado in Madrid; editing by Mark Potter; edited in Spanish by Darío Fernández)