20 branches of Ulster Bank are to close this year across the whole of the country.

It is part of the review by the bank of the service it provides here.

Last year Ulster Bank said it would be seeking 950 redundancies from its staff in Ireland with 500 earmarked for the retail division.

The bank currently employs over 6,000 people across the Republic and Northern Ireland.

Union to meet banking representatives

It serves around 1.9 million personal and business customers through 236 outlets and a business banking presence in every county.

The business is formed of two distinct divisions: Ulster Bank Retail Banking & Ulster Bank Corporate Banking.

In terms of its retail arm it currently has 146 outlets in the Republic and 90 outlets in the North.

Unions representing workers are planning to meet with executives of the bank seeking clarifications.

Larry Broderick is General-Secretary of the finance union IBOA.