The Edinburgh-based bank said the cuts were part of a restructuring aimed at becoming a smaller bank."We realize this will be difficult news for staff and we will do everything we can to support those affected," the bank said in a statement. "All roles which require customer contact will remain in the UK."RBS, which is more than 70 percent state-owned, is in the midst of a major restructuring aimed at returning the bank to profit after almost a decade of straight years of losses.

The bank was rescued with a 46 billion pound ($58.48 billion) state bailout during the 2007-09 financial crisis.

(Reporting by Andrew MacAskill in London; Additional reporting by Parikshit Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Adrian Croft)