The Australian bank sent out the automated emails ahead of schedule on Wednesday. Photo by Getty Images

ANZ has issued an apology and offered psychological counselling to more than 100 senior bankers after they received an email sent in error instructing them to return their computers, ahead of the news that they were going to be fired.

The Australian bank sent out the automated emails ahead of schedule on Wednesday. It held an online call with the staff later that day to confirm that those who had received them would be losing their jobs.

“Unfortunately, these emails indicate an exit date for some of our colleagues before we’ve been able to share their outcome with them,” said Bruce Rush, acting head of ANZ’s retail division, in an email to staff seen by the Financial Times.

“I deep

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