BOSSES at the RBS mortgage centre in Greenock are today under mounting pressure to give a firm commitment to its future after announcing a decision to axe up to 30 jobs.

Greenock Telegraph: RBS Mortgage Centre

It is the latest in a string of damaging job losses for the area from major employers and comes only two weeks after BT announced plans to move its nearby EE call centre out of Greenock to Glasgow.

Inverclyde MP Ronnie Cowan and council leader Stephen McCabe have both told the Tele that they are looking for urgent assurances from RBS that they are committed to Greenock.

Greenock Telegraph: Ronnie Cowan

Mr Cowan said: "It is deeply disappointing to discover this is happening, particularly as I visited the mortgage centre less than six months ago and met with senior management who gave me no indication that these job losses were coming.

"I will do everything possible to help those affected find the best possible outcome.

"It is particularly galling that this follows on from the BT decision to move hundreds of workers from Greenock to Glasgow."

He confirmed that he is seeking clarity on the future of the site, which employs around 1,000 staff, and 'seeking talks with RBS as a priority'.

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In a letter sent to the MP, RBS blamed the way customers have switched to digital transactions and said this had forced them to restructure their retail mortgage businesses.

They said: 'As a result, we have taken the difficult decision to reduce the number of roles within our Retail Mortgages Business, with a total of 20-30 roles in our Greenock Mortgage Centre due to be affected.

'All colleagues impacted by today’s announcement have been informed of the changes and what it means to them on an individual basis.

'We understand that these are difficult times and will support all impacted colleagues with comprehensive support packages and redeployment opportunities where possible.'

Over the last 12 months Inverclyde has suffered the loss of a series of big employers, with Amazon and IBM quitting the area and BPI Berry plastics moving manufacturing out of the district as well.

Local politicians have united in calling for the UK Government and Scottish Government to make urgent investment in Inverclyde to shore up its labour market.

Mr Cowan said: "I am in touch with the UK Government on the overall employment situation here in Inverclyde, and while our unemployment rate is actually below the UK average, it is clear to me that intervention is needed immediately to offset the effects of these jobs blows, and to target direct investment opportunities."

Greenock Telegraph: RBS Mortgage Centre

 

Council leader Mr McCabe is also looking for a commitment from the bank to secure the centre's future.

He said: "This is more disappointing news on the jobs front for Inverclyde and reinforces the need for Scottish Government intervention to help us deal with these repeated blows.

"We will be looking to engage with RBS as a matter of urgency to understand their plans for the Greenock site."

RBS bosses have told the Telegraph that there are no plans for more redundancies at this time and also insisted they have no plans in place to exit the Greenock site.

A Royal Bank of Scotland spokesman added: “More of our customers are choosing to take out our mortgages through brokers and our digital channels.

"We have to respond to the way customers are choosing to bank with us, and so we have taken the difficult decision to reduce the number of roles within our Retail Mortgages Business at Greenock.

"In making changes we aim to minimise the impact on our colleagues.

"We will support our colleagues with comprehensive support packages and there will be redeployment opportunities where possible for colleagues affected.”