Glasgow bank workers face an uncertain future after HSBC announced it is to axe 30,000 posts from its world-wide workforce.

The banking giant, which has a flagship Scotland branch in Glasgow city centre, said the redundancies were part of cost-cutting plans following a "disappointing" year-on-year figures for the first six months of 2011.

Although, the firm still posted pre-tax profits of £6.7 billion for the period, its Chief Executive Stuart Gulliver today unveiled the plans, which are to be implemented by 2013.

It did not provide details of any branch closures.

HSBC has already shed 5000 jobs – 700 in the UK – but Mr Gulliver warned the cuts were set to go deeper.

However, he did stress that the 30,000 figure excludes HSBC's future expansion plans.

HSBC employs around 3000 people in Scotland – with hundreds working at the three- storey flagship branch in Glasgow, on corner of Argyle Street and Buchanan Street.

The firm also has an internet bank call centre in Hamilton.

HSBC has around 52,000 staff in the UK, and a total of 335,000 worldwide.

In February, HSBC revealed ambitious expansion plans for the bank in Scotland – announcing that they intended to recruit at least another 100 staff this year.

Last year, the banking giant invested £2.1 million in a flagship retail branch in Glasgow city centre and recruited around 100 staff at the new branch as well as at its internet bank call centres in Hamilton and Edinburgh Park.

HSBC has blamed a slowdown in the worldwide recovery from the financial crisis and red tape surrounding banking reform in the wake of the global credit crunch.

Mr Gulliver said: "The pace and quantum of regulatory reform continues to increase at the same time as the global economy appears to be losing momentum in its recovery."

It is the latest bank to unveil widespread staff.

Lloyds Banking Group has unveiled 15,000 job losses this year, while the troubled Royal Bank of Scotland has shed 28,000 employees since 2010.