MORE than 500 banking jobs are under threat - including 39 in the North-East - after Lloyds TSB announced plans to close five back office operations.

The bank, which axed almost 1,000 jobs when it closed its Newcastle call centre in 2004, said more than 100 of the 566 job cuts would be offshored to India - sparking fury from unions.

The group has told staff at Newton Aycliffe, London, Tonbridge, Chorley and Glasgow that work will be transferred to larger sites in the UK, including Andover, Birmingham and Gillingham.

However, it drew criticism from its staff union after an additional 105 roles were moved offshore to India, where it has a workforce of 2,000.

The Lloyds TSB Group Union said the move sparked fears for the future of the bank's remaining call centre, in Sunderland, which employs about 600 people.

The union vowed to step up its lobbying efforts in an attempt to stop Lloyds transferring more work to India.

Steve Tatlow, assistant general secretary, said: ''This is yet another blow being delivered by Lloyds TSB to jobs in the North-East.

"The offshoring of work to India is already generating a significant customer backlash.

"Senior management will have to make a choice - either continue cost cutting in the teeth of customer opposition to its offshoring plans, or else refocus its strategy on putting customers first."

A Lloyds TSB spokeswoman said: "The volume of work handled at the Newton Aycliffe site has been declining over recent years and by the end of the year we expect there will only be work for 15 people. As a result, a decision has been made to offshore these 15 roles."

She said the 15 members of staff whose jobs were being offshored - but not the other 24 - would be guaranteed new jobs.

Paul Baker, head of operations for Lloyds TSB, said: "We have a really good track record of achieving reductions in staff numbers through natural turnover and redeployment and hope to support staff through the weeks ahead."