Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank to close dozens of branches with the loss of 400 jobs
The banking group confirmed that it was closing 79 branches which would result in 400 jobs lossed
A THIRD of the Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank network will close in what has been described as the largest-ever closure plan by the bank.
Seventy-nine branches will be closed, resulting in the loss of 400 jobs.
The group said that the move had been prompted by the trend towards electronic banking, adding that the number of customers using their bank day-to-day had fallen by a third across the banking industry.
Clydesdale bank branches expected to close include Edinburgh Leith Walk, Glasgow Aikenhead Road, Glasgow Bath Street, Leith, Stonehaven, and more.
Yorkshire branches expected to close include Burton-Upon-Trent, Crewe, Gateshead, Leamington Spa, Leeds Central, Newark, Richmond, and more.
In a statement, Clydesdale and Yorkshire 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 statement continued: "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.
"However, there will inevitably be employee number reductions as a result of these changes."
The Unite union - Britain's biggest trade union - said the closures represented a third of the bank's branch network.
Unite national officer Rob MacGregor told the that the move would be "concerning" for local communities which would be left with less choice in banking services.
Mr MacGregor 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.
"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."