Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks dealt a massive blow to their customers yesterday after announcing plans to axe 28 high-street branches.

The two firms have yet to reveal how many jobs may be at risk, but said they would save £5 million by shutting the branches and concentrating services on six "flagship" branches and upgrading their mobile and internet services.

However, the Unite union accused the banks of ignoring their customers' wishes by replacing human beings with machines.

The two banks are part of National Australia Bank, which has a history of shutting high-street operations against public opinion.

Unite national officer Rob MacGregor said: "The bank is cutting costs and eroding community banking which we believe leaves customers with less choice.

"Customers are being short-changed by high street banks replacing counter staff with machines, yet, according to our own poll, nearly three-quarters of people want the human touch, not just a machine in their local bank branch."

Mr MacGregor said that the union would oppose compulsory redundancies and expected the company to do everything possible to make redeployment an option.

Clydesdale Bank and Yorkshire Bank chief executive David Thorburn accepted that customers "did not welcome" branch closures but said new jobs would be created at the banks' busiest branches.

He added that more customers were using online and mobile services.