Business

Campaign mounted over 600 'at risk' Ulster Bank jobs in Belfast

Around 600 Ulster Bank staff in Belfast work directly in support of the lender in the Republic. Picture by Paul Faith
Around 600 Ulster Bank staff in Belfast work directly in support of the lender in the Republic. Picture by Paul Faith Around 600 Ulster Bank staff in Belfast work directly in support of the lender in the Republic. Picture by Paul Faith

A POLITICAL campaign has been launched in Belfast over fears for 600 Ulster Bank jobs in the city.

The lender’s parent company NatWest is considering the future of its Ulster bank operation in the Republic.

According to the Dublin-based Financial Services Union (FSU), winding down the operation across the border remains on the table in the ongoing strategic review.

Around 2,400 people are employed by Ulster Bank in the Republic, but another 600 staff in Belfast directly work in support of the southern operation.

Ulster Bank’s operation on the island was formally split by the parent group in 2015.

The FSU met with Finance Minister Conor Murphy and representatives from Belfast City Council last week.

Last night city councillors backed a motion calling on Brandon Lewis and the city’s four MPs to back all-party meetings on the proposals.

Brian McDowell from the FSU while there had been speculation over the future of Ulster Bank in the Republic for many years, he said: “I don’t think it has been raised in such a way where we know a strategic review now under way and we know that it has been actively discussed at a high level in Natwest, a complete cessation of Ulster Bank operations in the Republic."

In a statement, NatWest said: “Our strategy to grow our Ulster Bank business in the Republic of Ireland organically and safely remains unchanged. We continue to evaluate the impact of Covid-19 and the challenges to the economy and we are reviewing our strategy appropriately and responsibly in light of these events.

“In the event of any changes being made to our strategy, these would be undertaken with full consideration of any impact on customers, colleagues and shareholders in the first instance. Our priority now is to continue to remain focused on supporting our customers and colleagues in these difficult times.”