JOBS are set to go at Bristol & West in Guernsey. The company, part of the Bank of Ireland group, is reviewing its local operations in consultation with staff.

Bristol & West first announced in March that it was looking to restructure its offshore operations after deciding to create its headquarters in the Isle of Man.

The company, which has competed aggressively in the local mortgage market, has 7,500 customers across the Channel Islands.

A spokesman confirmed some of its 30 local staff would be made redundant, but said that it would keep both its local brand and High Street office.

‘We are currently in consultation with staff and are looking at the business, which includes looking at a number of options,’ he said.

‘It would not be wise to discuss what they are, but we are committed to maintaining the brand name on the island.’

The restructure is expected to be completed next year and staff are currently being consulted about the changes.

Bank of Ireland offshore chief executive Roly Alden said customers should carry on dealing with the company in the same way as they always have.

The business review should be completed in the autumn and the company said customers would be the first to know if any changes were to made.

‘Our customers and staff are our first priorities,’ he said.

Mr Alden said that the creation of a single headquarters for UK offshore operations would enable it ‘to enhance the service and products we offer our customers by building a centre of excellence’.

Bristol & West has 98 branches in the UK employing 2,800 staff who manage more than 200,000 mortgage accounts and 1,200,000 savings accounts.

In May it issued three property bonds locally worth £640,000, taking its total for January-May 2004 to 25 worth £5,642,000.

The company will still sponsor next year’s Harbour Carnival manpowered flight and is committed to supporting other fund-raising events, said the spokesman.

It recently held a corporate event during the Monaco Grand Prix to raise money for the Lord’s Taverners.

*The company has acted to reassure account holders that they would not be affected by a review of its local operations.

‘All mortgage and savings account holders should be reassured that their funds are entirely safe,’ said Chris Robinson, local director and chief executive.

‘The only changes that may be made are to the administration of their accounts and customers will be informed directly if this is to happen.’

As a well-established provider of financial services and part of Bank of Ireland, one of the largest banking groups in Europe, it said clients could have every confidence that their funds were entirely safe.