“During the first three months of this year alone, Ulster Bank announced that it is to exit the Irish banking market while Bank of Ireland announced the closure of over 100 branches.  Today’s announcement by KBC – which staff first learnt of through the media – comes as a further blow to both workers and customers.

“Unite members in the finance sector stand in full solidarity with KBC staff and the Financial Services Union.

“Given current developments in the sector, the most important thing a finance worker can do is join a union if they are not already in one, and become fully involved in their union if they are”, Ms O’Dowd concluded.