Government eyes RBS branches for nationalisation

The government is considering nationalising the 316 Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) branches currently up for sale, with a view to creating a new business lender, the Sunday Times reports.

If no commercial buyer is found for the branches, the paper reports, it would be set up as a standalone bank owned entirely by the taxpayer with the purpose of lending to small businesses. It would branded Williams & Glyn's, the name of a northern bank bought up by RBS 27 years ago. RBS is being forced to sell the 316 branches due to European state aid rules after accepting a government bailout during the financial crisis. Santander had been the preferred bidder for the branches, but pulled out last month. The Sunday Times said the branch network had about 1.8m retail accounts, an...