NAB is preparing to axe the first 1000 jobs under a $1 billion cost-cutting drive announced last year to make it a "simpler, faster bank" as it prepares for tougher competition.

Chief executive Andrew Thorburn in November announced up to 6000 existing jobs would be lost over the next three years, as part of a plan to slash expenses while investing in new technology.

NAB boss Andrew Thorburn announced in November that 6000 existing jobs would go over the next three years. Credit:Andrew Meares

This would require an average 1000 positions to be made redundant every six months. The company has also said it would hire 2000 people with technology skills.

"We need to be ready for a world where our competitors and maybe the growth outlook will be such that costs and efficiency will be at premium," Mr Thorburn said at the time.