A bank worker who was facing redundancy dishonestly diverted more than £18,000 of her employer's money into her own account.
Kirsty Anderton (37) admitted fraud and theft and was given an 18-month jail sentence, suspended for a year.
She was also placed on a three -month 7pm to 7am curfew.
Leicester Crown Court was told she had worked for RBS since 2004 in a clerical role at the bank's offices in Bede House, Western Boulevard, Leicester.
Mary Loran, prosecuting, said Anderton's responsibilities included moving money between internal accounts and writing out company cheques.
Between March and October last year, she wrote out eight cheques, seven of which were successfully paid into her personal account, involving a total of £18,201.
She attempted to steal a further £3,904 using an eighth cheque that was not honoured.
"The defendant made alterations to the internal accounts to hide what she had done," said Miss Loran.
The court heard the money was used to pay debts.
Anderton, of Main Street, Dunton Bassett, was made redundant and received a £12,000 payment a few days before her dishonesty was discovered.
Her account was frozen and Judge Michael Pert QC issued a confiscation order, directing the redundancy money should go to compensate the RBS.
He told Anderton: "You were employed by a bank and trusted with the responsibility of moving money between accounts.
"You stole the money by transferring it into your own bank account."
James Varley, mitigating, said: "It was theft in breach of trust, but it wasn't from a client account. It's not a case of life savings going missing.
"She survived the first round of redundancies but it was common knowledge another round was coming.
"She was desperate to avoid ruin and to pay off debts.
"She was simply trying to pay her way out of trouble. It made her desperate, anxious and unwell and it was completely out of character.
"It's come back to bite her now. She's on benefits and currently unfit to work.
"She's ruined everything she's striven so hard for."
