Lloyds has confirmed it is cutting 500 jobs from its retail banking division.

Many of the jobs will go from Chatham in Kent, which will see 210 positions cut with the closing of a processing centre.

Positions will also be axed in London and Birmingham.

The cuts will hit staff in regulated sales, mortgages and network support and will take effect by the end of the year.

"The Group's preference is to use natural turnover and to redeploy people wherever possible so it retains their expertise and knowledge within the Group," a Lloyds spokesman said.

The union Accord, which represents former HBOS workers at Lloyds, said staff should be offered the chance of redeployment within the company.

Unite said it was opposed to the Kent closure, adding that Lloyds had now cut almost 3,000 jobs this year.

National officer Rob MacGregor said: "Unite is extremely disappointed that the Lloyds Banking Group is to cut a further 510 roles.

"We have already seen over 2,400 job losses announced by the bank since its formation in January.

"Unite has made it plain that the union will not accept a situation where the LBG makes weekly announcements of hundreds of job losses.

"Staff must be told the company's plans for the future of the organisation and not be left with the uncertainty that they could be the next to lose their jobs."

Lloyds shareholders get their chance to question the direction of the bank at the company's AGM later this week.

The prospect of a rebellion, though, has receded since the body that manages the government's stake in Lloyds, UKFI, announced it would use its votes to back the board.