Read the article below about Europe's banks. Choose the correct answer for each question.

In spite of all the recent mergers and cost-cutting in the European banking sector, experts are warning that thousands of jobs are still at risk. UK banks could cut up to 20,000 jobs over the next two years as they try to compete with supermarkets and direct providers Switzerland and Germany, with their over-crowded retail banking markets, could see even greater job losses.

The need to reduce non-IT costs is becoming increasingly important as Europe's banks invest heavily in electronic banking and meet the costs of dealing with the millennium bug and European economic and monetary union (Emu) all at the same time. The domestic branch networks will suffer most, with several European banks planning to close up to 15 per cent of their smaller branches.

The staff reductions are made possible by the development of electronic banking services such as telephone banking, smart cards and PC banking. Alan Higgins, Manager of Direct Financial Services at Carlisle NSB, a UK bank, is hoping that home banking technology will put the company ahead of its competitors. "We are testing a product called HomeBank with 2,000 of our customers who have a 24-hour direct modem connection."

The banks have to find a way of cutting staff and using technology without affecting the quality of service. "We have to take the bank to the customer" says Alan Higgins. "I do a lot of my day-to-day banking on a Sunday. "However, in spite of the warnings about jobs, recent figures suggest that banks will continue to make record profits.