FINANCIAL regulators have been urged to investigate how "potentially" market sensitive information about job losses at state-backed Lloyds Bank was leaked.
Unite reacted with anger to fresh speculation that the banking giant, which owns the Bank of Scotland and employs around 16,000 people north of the Border, is expected to announce 9,000 job cuts when it publishes financial results next week.
The union said it was "deeply upsetting" for the bank's staff to hear reports of job cuts in the media before being told officially.
A union spokesman said: "We would urge financial regulators to investigate how potentially market sensitive information about Lloyds Bank has repeatedly found its way into the public domain.
"Leaks and speculation about the future of thousands of staff is a reprehensible way to treat customers and a dedicated workforce who have worked hard to get Lloyds back on track."
He added: "It is deeply unsettling for staff who have already endured the uncertainty of job cuts and we will be urgently meeting the bank to get answers."
Lloyds publishes results for the third quarter on October 28.
The group remains 25 per cent-owned by the taxpayer following its £20 billion rescue by the Government at the height of the financial crisis.
It was 43 per cent-owned by the Treasury but some of the stake has now been sold off.
Thousands of jobs have been lost at the bank since the financial crisis. The latest cuts are expected to be announced as part of chief executive Antonio Horta-Osorio's strategy review next Tuesday.
Lloyds declined to comment.
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