THOUSANDS of workers with the Yorkshire Bank could see their jobs at risk.

The Australian owner of the Clydesdale and Yorkshire banks put its UK operation under review, fuelling uncertainty among its 8,300-strong workforce.

And there was more gloom in the finance sector when Lloyds Banking Group announced plans to axe almost 1,000 jobs and close three offices in a “devastating” blow to workers.

Clydesdale and Yorkshire owner National Australia Bank (NAB) has given itself until May to complete a strategic review that will steel the business for a slow economic recovery.

The overhaul is expected to shrink the size of its UK operation, which has 337 branches, although reports in Australia have said it may look to renew efforts to exit the UK market altogether.

Yorkshire Bank was founded in 1859 in Halifax, West Yorkshire, and has 185 retail branches including ones in Huddersfield and Brighouse, while Glasgow-based Clydesdale, which was bought by NAB in 1987, has 152 outlets.

Lloyds said 990 jobs are being cut and offices closed in Romford, Newcastle upon Tyne and Scunthorpe, as part of its previously-announced strategic review, sparking anger from unions.