Yorkshire Bank branch closures to affect Leamington Spa

Hundreds of jobs are in danger at the Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banking Group as it looks to close 79 branches across its network.

In its largest-ever spate of closures, a third of the banking group’s branches will be shut. Union Unite said it would “radically change the face of the bank”.

Although the vast majority of affected branches are in Scotland and the north, Yorkshire Banks’ Leamington Spa site will shut.

Rob MacGregor, Unite national officer said: “Staff across the Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank will be devastated to learn that 79 branches will close and consequently over 400 colleagues will lose their jobs.

“This cost cutting plan leaves customers with less choice for local banking.

“The union has called on the bank to give a commitment to mitigate compulsory redundancies where possible and that they will reconsider closing any bank branches that are the last bank in a town.”

A statement from the bank said: “The Bank continues to reshape its service offering in response to these changing needs.

“To support this transformation the Bank is committing £350m over the next two years, embracing digital innovation while continuing to invest in a more sustainable branch network to deliver a superior customer experience.

“The Bank’s first priority is to our customers and we will be working extensively with impacted customers, local communities and relevant stakeholders to ensure that the transition to their new branch is as smooth and as sensitive as possible, particularly where vulnerable customers are concerned.

“It is also the Bank’s intention to try to find roles for frontline branch staff either within other branches or elsewhere in the Bank, wherever possible.”

CYBG, which became independent of its former owners National Australia Bank, last year via an IPO, is undertaking a major investment programme and reported its first pre-tax profits in five years at the end of 2016. The bank has also been associated with a deal for beleaguered RBS arm Williams & Glyn after a seven-year sale process.