YORKSHIRE Building Society staff in Dunfermline have received an early Christmas gift this year after the company announced it was giving all its staff an extra day off on Christmas Eve.

The gesture means workers will receive a full five-day break over the festive season before returning to work on December 29.

Customers are being urged to plan ahead if they need to contact the Society as the High Street branch and its call centres will be closed during these dates.

Mike Regnier, Chief Executive of Yorkshire Building Society, explained: “We wanted to do something that recognised the extraordinary couple of years that our colleagues have been through. I hope that by giving our colleagues in Dunfermline and across the UK Christmas Eve off again this year and providing an extended break to relax and spend time with family at home shows in part my immense gratitude to them.

“Since March last year, our response to COVID-19 has been to focus on the key priorities of keeping members in their homes, making sure their savings are secure and accessible, and looking after our colleagues’ safety and wellbeing.

"Without the massive efforts of our colleagues, none of this would have been possible. I also hope customers understand why we have made this decision to recognise our colleagues in this way after this unprecedented year.”