LLOYDS Banking Group has not confirmed how planned job cuts will affect Swindon.

The company has announced plans to cut 9,000 jobs and close 150 branches nationwide.

The group, which has axed 43,000 jobs since 2008, has a number of branches in the Swindon area, including at the Brunel Centre, in Old Town, Gorse Hill Royal Wootton Bassett, Cricklade and Highworth.

However yesterday a Lloyds spokesman said he could not confirm which branches were facing closure, with the doors set to close over the next three years.

“We are currently going through the process and the decision will be made once we establish how best we can serve our customers,” he said.

The group, which has a network of about 2,250 branches and is a quarter owned by the Government, would focus on ‘urban’ areas and on branches which have an overlapping catchment, he said.

Unite union national officer Rob MacGregor said the cuts would have a big impact on customer service.

“These are deeply unsettling times for Lloyds staff, who after days of speculation and leaks face yet another round of job cuts and a future of uncertainty,” he said.

“Job cuts of approximately 10 per cent could have unknown consequences on customer service and will put even more pressure on staff who have helped get the bank back on the right track.

“The wallets of top executives at Lloyds should not be getting fat by forcing low-paid workers on to the dole. If there are compulsory redundancies or customer service suffers then executive pay should be cut.

“Over the coming days we will be pressing Lloyds for clarity and for guarantees over no compulsory redundancies.”

The announcement is the latest setback for the group, which has also been forced to set aside an extra £900m to cover possible future payouts over the PPI misselling scandal.

However the group, which also owns the Halifax and Bank of Scotland brands, reported pre-tax profits of £1.61bn for the nine months to September 30.