JPMorgan, Barclays, Deutsche Bank return to UK offices

LONDON, January 21, Reuters -- JPMorgan, Barclays and Deutsche Bank have told staff they can return to the office in England, joining a growing number of banks opening their buildings after COVID 19 restrictions were eased this week.

JPMorgan told staff in England to return from Feb. 1, saying they expected people to work at least some days a week according to working patterns agreed within teams, an internal memo seen by Reuters said.

The bank encouraged staff to get a booster and to get a vaccine when eligible, but said it did not require this for people to return. A bank spokeswoman confirmed the contents of the memo.

Deutsche Bank employees can start coming back to the office on January 31, a spokesman said.

A source familiar with the matter told Reuters that Barclays will resume hybrid work in England next week.

Some of the staff had continued to use Deutsche Bank offices, but now others will be able to return, with most working on average three days a week in the office, the spokesperson said.

The banks, along with Standard Chartered, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs and HSBC, have moved quickly to get people back in office after the British government scrapped work from home guidance for England.