Mr Salmond will meet RBS chief executive Stephen Hester because the Scottish Government raised concerns that the announcement had not been given “proper sensitivity”.

This means 2,000 jobs will go in the insurance division and a further 600 will be lost at its retail banking headquarters in Edinburgh and London.

RBS said it had accelerated the plans after the European Commission announced it must sell more than 300 branches as well as the insurance business by 2013 to soothe competition concerns following its state bailout.

Are there any RBS offices in kent? I hope not. wouldnt want to see more jobs lost .