The Australian owner of two historic regional British banks has announced plans to close 100 branches in the United Kingdom (UK). National Australia Bank (NAB) said 60 branches of the Glasgow-based Clydesdale Bank and 40 Yorkshire Bank branches would be closed within the next 18 months. NAB outlined the plans to cut costs and 4,200 jobs from its Australian and UK operations as it revealed its half-year financial results. The bank announced in March that up to 1,700 jobs were to be axed in the UK as it looked to save up to £117 million ($220 million) a year at the Clydesdale and Yorkshire banks.