UPDATE 1-Banks in Britain ask staff to return to offices

(Adds Citi, Goldman, HSBC and City of London)

By Lawrence White and Iain Withers

LONDON, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Banks including Standard
Chartered and Citigroup have told staff in
Britain to return to the office, taking advantage of the
government's lifting of work-from-home rules to combat the
spread of COVID-19.

Goldman Sachs also plans to resume office working in
accordance with the changed guidelines, a bank spokesperson
said, while HSBC said staff would be welcome back in
its offices from Thursday as part of a hybrid approach.

Standard Chartered has told employees its London
headquarters will be open for all staff from Monday Jan. 24, a
spokesperson said.

Citi staff are "expected to be in the office at least three
days per week", it said in an internal memo seen by Reuters. A
spokesperson for the bank confirmed the contents of the memo.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday said the
government would immediately drop its advice for people to work
from home, with further restrictions - including mandatory face
coverings in public places - to be dropped next week.

The immediate response from banks shows how keen Britain's
financial companies are to get staff back into city offices at
least some of the time.

The move will also provide a much-needed boost for shops,
cafes and restaurants in London's Square Mile and Canary Wharf
financial districts, which have been hit hard by remote working.

"Before Christmas the Omicron variant cast a dark shadow
over the Square Mile's recovery. The signs are now much more
promising," said Catherine McGuinness, Policy Chair at the City
of London Corporation.

"We look forward to welcoming City workers back to their
offices as soon as possible."
(Reporting By Lawrence White and Iain Withers
Editing by David Goodman)