Ulster Bank’s chief executive has told staff that the strategy of its parent NatWest to grow the Republic of Ireland operations, while also considering all strategic options, has not changed.

Ulster Bank’s chief executive has told staff that the strategy of its parent NatWest to grow the Republic of Ireland operations, while also considering all strategic options, has not changed. 
In a note to staff this morning, Jane Howard described reports last evening that NatWest is considering shutting down all Ulster Bank’s operations in the Republic as “speculative”. 
“It’s important to emphasis to your colleagues and to customers that we have seen commentary like this before and this, like previous stories, is also speculative,” she said.
“I know that it can be distracting but I would ask that you please stay focused on serving our customers well,” she added.
According to last night’s report in the Irish Times, the wind down of Ulster Bank’s Republic of Ireland operations is one of a number of options being considered as part of a strategic review by NatWest. 
Other possibilities being looked at include merging Ulster Bank with another lender, the Irish Times stated. 
In her note to staff, Ms Howard referred to comments by Natwest CEO Alison Rose in July who said the group’s strategy was and is to grow Ulster Bank “organically and safely”. 
She said the group had been successful in “growing both the person(al) mortgage and some of the commercial share in 2019.” 
“That strategy hasn’t changed. Clearly Covid-19 presents different challenges to the economy and we will continue to consider all strategic options in relation to that business,” she added.
Both NatWest and Ulster Bank have declined to comment on the matter.
The Financial Services Union (FSU), which represents up to 70% of the more than 2,500 staff at Ulster Bank, said it held an emergency meeting of its Ulster Bank negotiating team last night.
John O’Connell, Financial Services Union general secretary, said the communication to staff to this morning by the CEO raised more questions than answers and adds to staff and customer concerns.
Speaking on RTE Radio One’s Today with Claire Byrne, Mr O’Connell said the FSU has written to the bank.
He said the union had good engagement in good faith with the bank in the last number of weeks over an ongoing redundancy programme, but it now seems a vital piece of information about a strategic review being underway was withheld from them.
Ulster Bank employs more than 2,500 people (Photo: RollingNews.ie)
As a result, he said, the news had come as a huge shock to the union and staff, who are “outraged”.
Mr O’Connell said NatWest now needs to publish the terms of the reference of the review, reveal what other options are on the table and what the outcome is when it is concluded.
He also called for the Minister for Finance to contact NatWest and seek assurances about Ulster Bank’s future role in the banking system here.