The bank says it will attempt to redeploy as many of the affected people - the vast majority UK-based at places such as Radbrooke Hall, Cheshire and Northampton - and limit compulsory redundancies.

David Fleming, Unite national officer, says: "The decision by Barclays Technology to cut 422 jobs is a new year's blow for the staff. Unite has strongly opposed the sending of some of this work to Lithuania, when there are already highly trained workers carrying out this work."

However, the bank has denied that jobs are being moved to Lithuania and told the Press Association: "We need to make essential changes to our technology and infrastructure division so that we can innovate in new technologies and services for our customers, and be as effective and efficient as possible."

Earlier today RBS outlined plans to cut nearly 3500 positions at its investment bank and another 950 at Irish subsidiary Ulster Bank.