Concerns over jobs at KBC Bank in Naas and Maynooth

A union has warned about uncertainity about jobs at KBC Ireland which has a branch in Naas and Maynooth.

KBC Group chief executive Johan Thijs said a decision regarding the bank's future would be announced on February 9.

Workers are worried because it is unclear whether the bank's operations will remain unchanged, or whether it will be merged or sold.

The bank employs more than 1,000 people in Kildare, Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, Wicklow and Kilkenny.

Larry Broderick, general secretary of the Financial Services Union, said: 'It has been reliably reported that KBC will issue a decision on its future in Ireland early next month.

"All options, including a sale or merger, appear to be on table and this has created significant concern among staff.

"Our members in KBC are concerned about their jobs and their future roles. This uncertainty cannot be allowed to hang over bank staff for the next month."

Mr Broderick said that he had written to the chief executive of KBC Ireland expressing staff concerns. He urged the organisation to 'provide clarity' to its employees.

Mr Broderick also urged Finance Minister Michael Noonan to 'seek clarity about the bank's intentions as soon as possible'. KBC Bank had an operating profit of €17.1million before tax and impairment for the third quarter of 2016, down from €33.9million in the same period in 2015.