EXCLUSIVE: RBS and Natwest plan to reduce hours by up to 30 per cent due to big losses

Original article CLICK HERE

RBS and NatWest plan to cut some branches’ opening times by more than two hours a day. The move could be a big step towards shutting them, campaigners feared last night. The banks are considering reducing hours of business by up to 30 per cent.

That could chop two hours and 15 minutes from a working day of seven hours and 30 minutes.

Staff in the South East were told of the plans, as well as 200 potential redundancies, last week.

It is not known how many branches will be hit or when the changes will kick in. RBS — NatWest’s parent bank — is 73 per cent taxpayer-owned. It has made a loss every year since its bailout in 2008.

A spokesman for both banks said they had to “remain viable and relevant”.

He added: “This is clearly difficult news for staff affected by these changes. We will do everything we can to support them, including seeking redeployment opportunities wherever possible.”