The former head of fraud and security for digital banking at Lloyds has been charged with defrauding her employer, the Crown Prosecution Service said today.

The CPS said that the Metropolitan Police had been authorised to charge Jessica Harper with one count of fraud by abuse of position.

"The charge relates to an allegation that between 1 September 2008 and 21 December 2011, Jessica Harper dishonestly and with the intention of making a gain for herself, abused her position as an employee of Lloyds Banking Group, in which she was expected to safeguard the financial interests of Lloyds Banking Group, by submitting false invoices to claim payments totalling £2,463,750.88, to which she was not entitled," said Andrew Penhale, deputy head of the CPS Central Fraud Group.

Penhale said the CPS had determined that there is "a realistic prospect of conviction and a prosecution is in the public interest". Ms Harper will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on 31 May.

"As the court process is ongoing it would be inappropriate for us to comment," a Lloyds spokesperson said in a statement.