Royal Bank of Canada and Bank of Montreal led 4 Canadian lenders in trimming 1,362 jobs in Q4 of 2011, the industry's first employment drop in 2 years.   RBC, Canada's largest lender, had 585 fewer full-time employees at the end of the period - nearly a 1% reduction from the previous quarter.  BOM, 4th largest, had 435 fewer workers - also nearly a 1% drop.  Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) had 186 jobs - 0.4% as of 10/31/11.  Most cuts were in Canada. It's the first time since the Q4 of 2009 that net jobs declined at Canada's 8 largest banks, as Canadian lenders are lowering costs ahead of an expected slowdown in 2012 - though following record combined profits ($23.1 billion) this fiscal year. Toronto-Dominion, against the grain, the 2nd-largest lender, added 192 people in the quarter, joining increases at Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS), which bolstered ranks by 470 workers.    [Bloomberg, 12/9/11]