Lloyds Banking Group is to create around 500 new roles in its Verde business.

Verde is its EC-mandated retail and commercial business divestment programme.

It has also announced the key operational sites which will join the Verde business.

These sites, which will provide telephony, banking operations and mortgage centre support to the Verde business, are in five UK locations, in Gloucester, Livingston, Birmingham, Sunderland and Swansea.

Around 1,400 members of staff in these locations will become part of the Verde business, joining around 5,000 branch staff.

Alison Brittain, group director retail division, said: “This represents the next step in building the Verde business following last year’s branch network and management team announcement