Bank of Ireland is outsourcing some of its training and purchasing operations to technology consultancy Accenture in the latest phase of its EUR120 million cost cutting programme.
BoI says the seven-year deal that will save it more than EUR20m a year will see a new HR structure implemented over the coming months that will transform and streamline the provision of HR services to the business.
Around 180 staff will be affected. Some will transfer to Accenture, while others will be redeployed within the bank or take voluntary redundancy.
Brian Goggin, chief executive, Bank of Ireland, says: "The agreement with Accenture for the supply of training and purchasing services is a further significant step in our strategy to transform Bank of Ireland Group. It ensures that we source these services from a quality supplier, with proven global expertise and at the most efficient cost."
The move is part of cost cutting measures, announced in March this year, that will see the bank shed 2100 staff, or 12% of its workforce, over the next four years, mainly through the streamlining of support services and the consolidation of processing activities throughout the group.
So far 400 staff have agreed to leave the bank.
The bank says it is adding 500 staff in frontline areas as part of its customer programme, of which 250 have been recruited so far.