We, the undersigned, ask you as Chair of the Board of NatWest Bank to confirm the Bank's long-term commitment to Ulster Bank and end the negative speculation for staff and customers.
As you will be aware, since mid-September 2020, staff have faced reports that NatWest is conducting a review of the Bank with closure of the bank as a possibility. This has left us as staff in a shocking position, amidst a pandemic, wondering whether we will have a job or not in six months.
Equally, we have to face questions every day, which we cannot answer, from customers and members of the public as to whether they should close or open accounts or switch their business out of the bank. This uncertainty and ambiguity is damaging to the bank commercially, negatively impacting its future potential and making our job as staff members much more difficult.
Despite this, we have continued to serve customers and keep the bank working with purpose in these extraordinary times. The least we deserve, as a loyal staff team, is a clear commitment from you. It is not reasonable or fair to allow speculation of closure or sale to continue.
We ask you to address these concerns and provide a long-term commitment to Ulster Bank, both its staff and customers.
Signed,