Danske bank to move 250 staff to Belfast city centre

Danske Bank is to move its Northern Ireland call centre staff into its Belfast city centre headquarters.

The call centre currently employs about 250 people at an office block in Dunmurry, a south Belfast suburb.

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

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

It comes after the chief executive of the bank's Danish parent company provoked speculation about the future ownership of the Northern Ireland operation.

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 being asked about the bank's future in Northern Ireland in the context of a strategy which is focused on Nordic countries.

However, it is understood the Northern Ireland operation is not being actively offered for sale.

It would be unusual for spending on an office refurbishment to be approved if a sales process was imminent.

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."