ROYAL Bank of Scotland has announced it is planning to cut more than 440 jobs in a cost-cutting measure aimed at returning the bank to profit.
In a statement, the state-owned bank said the jobs in question relate to the handling of loans for small businesses.
The lender added that some jobs would be moved to India.
“We realise this will be difficult news for staff and we will do everything we can to support those affected,” RBS said.
“All roles which require customer contact will remain in the UK,” it added.
A spokesman from Unite said the union is concerned about the implications of the move adding that taxpayers would lose out as a result.
“By shipping these jobs to India, RBS will be getting that work done more cheaply at the cost of jobs,” Unite said.
The Government still hold a 73 per cent stake in RBS following its £45 billion bailout in 2008 at the height of the financial crisis.
Last month, RBS already said that it would be cutting some 180 permanent position and offshoring more to India in a move towards becoming a smaller and more UK-focused bank.
In March, the bank also announced it was closing 158 branches across the UK– the majority of which were NatWest branches – with the loss of 470 jobs.
It means that 30 RBS branches and 128 NatWest branches around the UK will close this year.
In the bank’s most recent annual report, RBS Chairman Howard Davies described 2016 as “another difficult year.
He said: “2016 was another difficult year for RBS shareholders, even though there is good progress to report on our strategy to rebuild a strong bank focused primarily on retail and commercial customers in the UK and Ireland.”
IS YOUR LOCAL BRANCH CLOSING?
Here is a full list of branches affected by the proposed clores:
LONDON & SOUTH EAST
Bishopsgate, Bankside, Bayswater, Belgravia, Belsize Park, Cavendish Square, Cheshunt, East Finchley, Enfield Highway, Esher, Euston Road, Finchley Central, Great Portland Street, Hampstead Village, Hendon Church Road, Highbury & Islington, Kingsland, Maida Vale, Marble Arch, Mill Hill, Millbank, Parsons Green, Romford Collier Row, Shepperton, St. John’s Wood, Stamford Hill, Sunningdale, Teddington, Temple Fortune, Tower Bridge, Upminster, Wembley Park, Whetstone, Woodford Green
MIDLANDS & EAST
Ashourne, Belper, Biddulph, Bingham, Bourne, Buckingham, Burslem Stoke-on-Trent, Cheadle (Staffs), Daventry, Dronfield, Eastwood Nottingham, Felixstowe, Frinton-on-Sea, Hanley Festival Park, Haverhill, Horncastle, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Lexden Colchester, Lincoln Newark Road, Matlock, Mickleover, Netherfield, Northampton St. James, Nottingham University, Olney, Ripley Derbyshire, Rugeley, Sleaford, Southwell, Staveley Chesterfield, Stoke-on-Trent, Stone Staffs, Stowmarket, Sutton Coldfield Wylde Green, Towcester, Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent, Washwood Heath, Woodbridge
NORTH
Adel Leeds, Ambleside, Bingley, Bradford City Centre, Cockermouth, Colne, Droylsden, Eccles, Egremont, Formby, Frodsham, Grange-over-Sands, Haxby York, Heswall, Huyton, Keswick, Kirkby, Knaresborough, Liverpool One, Liverpool University, Manchester University Union, Millom, Otley, Ramsbottom, Selby, Settle, Tadcaster, Thirsk, Ulverston, Wigton
SOUTH WEST & WALES
Aberdare, Boscombe, Builth Wells, Burnham-on-Sea, Canford Cliffs Poole, Chandler’s Ford, Cheddar, Ebbw Vale, Ferndown, Hay-on-Wye, Hythe Southampton, Langport, Machynlleth, Monmouth, New Milton, Pontypool, Southampton London Road, Southampton Portswood, Warminster, Wellington Somerset, Welshpool, Westbourne Bournemouth, Wincanton, Winton Bournemouth, Worle, Ystrad Mynach
SCOTLAND
Anstruther, Banchory, Bishopbriggs, Blantyre, Buckie, Cowdenbeath, Cumnock, Cupar, Dalgety Bay, Denny, Forres, Girvan, Glasgow Alexandra Parade, Glasgow Anniesland Cross, Glasgow Burnside, Glasgow Crosshill, Glasgow Govan, Grangemouth, Kilsyth, Kirkcaldy Central, Leven, Mauchline, Newton Mearns, Newton Stewart, Prestwick, Stenhousemuir, Stonehaven, Troon, Westhill, Whitburn
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