Lloyds Banking Group has announced plans to axe 6,240 jobs as part of a digital overhaul.

The job cuts will hit back office roles rather than branches, a spokesman has said, with the company’s Gillingham site closing.

Lloyds is also set to create 8,240 new roles as part of the shake-up, resulting in a net creation of 2,000 jobs.

Announcing the plans on Tuesday, Lloyds said that 75% of the new roles will be filled by existing staff, but some specialist roles such as data scientists and software engineers will be recruited externally.

A spokesman said: “Lloyds Banking Group has today announced that it will create an additional circa 2,000 roles, as it strengthens its capability to offer customers new leading-edge digital banking products and services.

“The group is investing to further digitise the bank and will refresh some existing roles and create new roles within its structure, while also providing comprehensive retraining for colleagues to help them build their capabilities to meet the demands of these future roles.”

The move is part of a £3 billion commitment from Lloyds to invest heavily in technology as part of its three-year strategic plan under chief executive Antonio Horta-Osorio.

Lloyds has now announced nearly 10,000 job cuts in the 20 months since the Government sold off its stake in the lender to take it fully private.

The bank’s efficiency and modernisation drive has been ongoing since it was taken off the public books in May 2017, with Lloyds saying a business overhaul and reduction of its branch network is essential to ensure it stays relevant amid a digital shift.

Lloyds raked in £1.82bn of profit in the three months to 30 September. which has left unions questioning the job cuts.

Unite national officer Rob MacGregor said: “As the profits stack up for Lloyds, so does the uncertainty for loyal staff who work hard to serve customers. This latest announcement will undoubtedly hit the morale of staff who have had to endure round after round of job cuts, branch closures and constant upheaval.

“The news of additional jobs will prove to be a bitter pill for workers at Lloyds’ Gillingham site closure.

“These hard-working staff face limited opportunities for redeployment, while other workers around the country could effectively be forced out of a job because they are unable to travel or move to where the new roles are located.

“Unite will be pressing Lloyds to guarantee no compulsory redundancies and ensure that staff who move into new roles are given the support and skills that enable them to continue delivering the best possible customer service.”