Economics

Danske bank to move 250 staff to Belfast city centre

The bank is planning a "multi-million-pounds refurbishment" before the move which is planned for the end of next year.

Danske Bank to relocate 250 staff to Belfast city centre

The call centre now employs about 250 people in an office building in Dunmurry.

Danske Bank plans to move its Northern Ireland call centre employees into its Belfast city centre headquarters.

At present, the call centre has around 250 staff working from an office block in Dunmurry, a suburb in south Belfast.

Before the move, which is scheduled for the end of next year, the bank is planning a "multi-million-pounds refurbishment".

Danske Bank UK chief executive Julie-Ann Haines said: "Creating a shared home in the city centre will help strengthen collaboration, teamwork and one bank culture."

The announcement follows speculation about the future ownership of the Northern Ireland business, sparked by comments from the chief executive of the bank's Danish parent company.

Speaking to banking industry analysts last week, Carsten Egeriis said that in future, there could be a look at "whether there is, or could be, a better owner" for Danske in Northern Ireland.

He was responding to questions about the bank's future in Northern Ireland in the context of a strategy focused on Nordic countries.

However, it is understood that the Northern Ireland operation is not currently being actively marketed for sale.

It would be unusual for refurbishment spending on an office to be approved if a sale process were about to begin.

Haines added: "Over recent years, we have invested significantly in refurbishing many of our branches.

"It is now right that we turn our focus to investing in our head office environment, for the benefit of colleagues based there today and those currently based in Dunmurry, who will in time become part of a more modern, future-ready and connected base for our business."

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