Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has decided to shut down its contact centre in Southampton, putting more than 200 jobs at risk.

Unite, the union representing RBS staff, protested against the bank’s decision calling the move ‘deplorable’.

In a statement, the union said that closure of Southampton office at Brunswick Gate will result in the loss of 227 jobs.

The Southampton employees work within Personal and Premier Distribution of the RBS. The department offers direct telephony and support functions to the customers.

Unite national officer Rob MacGregor said: “The Royal Bank of Scotland decision to close its Southampton contact centre is deplorable. This is a betrayal by the taxpayer backed bank of its 227 staff.

“The closure of this site will devastate the hundreds of highly trained, skilled and loyal staff, many of which are from the local community. Unite is calling on the bank to reconsider this decision and protect their workforce.

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“While the bank claim some jobs will be created in Manchester and Southend, this will serve as little comfort to the Southampton centre employees.”

The union added that it will work with RBS to ensure alternative employment for the affected staff.

A spokesman for RBS told Reuters that the move is aligned with the bank’s efforts to create a ‘simpler, smaller, more customer-focussed bank’.

In February this year, RBS announced its 2018 results registering a pre-tax profit of £3.4bn. The figure represents a 50% increase over last fiscal.