(Reuters) – British trade union Unite said on Tuesday that the closure of Royal Bank of Scotland’s Brunswick Gate customer contact center in Southampton would result in the loss of 227 bank staff.

“Unite is calling on the bank to reconsider this decision and protect their workforce,” the union said in a statement.

The state-backed bank has undergone extensive restructuring since the financial crisis and while the rate of job cuts has slowed in recent years, it has continued to axe jobs in response to more of its customers banking online rather than by telephone or in branch.

A spokesman for RBS said: “As we become a simpler, smaller, more customer-focussed bank and more of our customers choose to self-serve through our digital services, we have taken the difficult decision to close our contact center at Brunswick Gate when the lease expires next year.

“We understand how difficult this news will be for staff and are supporting colleagues impacted by this announcement with help for their future career.”

Source: Read Full Article