Financial claims management company EMCAS has doubled the size of its Devon workforce to 282 over the past 12 months after opening a new office in Exeter. Demand from consumers who have been mis-sold financial products has increased and the company has developed and launched new specialist services.

HSBC Bank is closing its branch in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, due to a decrease in customers using it. All staff employed at the branch will be redeployed to other branches including Horncastle and there will be no redundancies.

The Co-operative Bank has issued a 21.9m agreement to Banks Renewables, part of the Banks Group, to fund the construction of the Penny Hill Wind Farm in South Yorkshire. Thirty new jobs are expected to be created as a direct result. Completion is expected by the end of 2013.

The National Australia Bank is restructuring its British operations, the Clydesdale and Yorkshire banks, as a result of a 15.5 per cent drop in group profit following poor performance by its British operations. Net profit for the six months to the end of March 2012 was 2.1 billion Australian dollars (1.3 billion), down from 2.4 billion (1.5 billion) in the same period in 2011. The UK division posted a net profit loss of 36 million dollars (22.3 million) in the first half, down from a 122 million (75.7 million). The restructuring will involve the loss of 1400 jobs by 2015. Cameron Clyne is Group Chief Executive.