Lloyds 'to axe hundreds of staff'

Lloyds Bank is to axe 645 jobs and close a telephone banking centre in the UK under fresh cost-cutting moves, a union has revealed.

Unite attacked the cuts and said it would press for a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies.

Over 2,400 jobs have gone at the taxpayer bailed out bank since the start of the year leading to “plummeting” staff morale, said Unite.

Half the job losses half will result from the Warrington site’s closure by the end of 2014, in a move Unite branded as “unjustified” and a “bad deal” for customers. Most of the other cuts will be from the group’s wealth business and HR function, said Unite.

National officer Rob MacGregor said: “This is the third tranche of job losses since the beginning of the year and is in danger of sending staff morale to an all time low.

“The closure of the Warrington centre will hit the local economy and risks damaging customer service.

“Lloyds staff have worked hard since it was bailed out by the taxpayer to make the bank a success. Their reward has been continual uncertainty and attacks on their pensions.

“Lloyds needs to give its workforce stability and guarantees of no compulsory redundancies. Only then will the bank be able to live up to its motto to Make Britain Prosper.”