NatWest has ordered 13,000 staff to increase their in-office days from two days a month to two days a week, angering its staff union.

The banking group, which serves customers under the Royal Bank of Scotland, NatWest, Ulster Bank and Coutts brands, will require all of its nearly 40,000 UK staff to follow a strict two days a week office schedule from February 2027, abolishing a remote-first policy for thousands of employees.

Unite said it was a "kick in the teeth" for the 13,000 employees who attend the office only two days a month, and accounted for some of NatWest's lowest-paid workers, including staff involved in technology, security, data analytics and human resources.

The union said the change would pile additional financial pressure on staff already struggling with rising living costs, while undermining flexible arrangements for those with caring responsibilities or disabilities. Many had also structured their lives around flexible working agreements that were expanded during the Covid pandemic, it said.

"This is yet another kick in the teeth for workers who have suffered years of real-terms pay cuts and who are struggling to make ends meet," said the Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham.

"NatWest's decision is completely out of touch with the realities facing its workforce," she added, noting that thousands of staff would face higher travel and childcare costs as a result.

"For NatWest to impose these changes while reneging on existing agreements shows complete contempt for its workforce. NatWest must ditch these proposals and engage properly with its workers."

The bank said its policy was meant to "help teams collaborate," echoing arguments made by other banks ranging from JP Morgan to Revolut, which clamped down on remote working, saying it harms the training of younger staff.

Last month Barclays was forced to push back its return-to-office plans after a staff backlash, backed by Unite. It had ordered staff to come in at least three days a week from early October, up from two days a week. The bank eventually softened its stance and allowed some staff to delay the requirement until next year.

Some staff at NatWest – including traders, branch workers and relationship managers – are already required to be in the office four days a week. Others, including its communications, administrative and analytics staff, work a hybrid schedule where they are in six times a month.

A NatWest spokesperson said: "Flexible working remains an important part of how we work but we've also learned more about the value that spending time together brings for our colleagues and customers – helping teams collaborate, share ideas, build relationships and learn from one another."

The bank added: "We recognise this will be a change for some colleagues and we're giving them time to plan ahead and will support them through the transition."