March 29, 2024

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Passion For Business

NatWest to move headquarters if Scotland votes for independence

NatWest will move its headquarters out of Scotland soon after 294 many years if the nation gets to be unbiased, chief government Alison Rose has reported.

Ms Rose reported the bailed-out bank would be forced to act due to the fact it is simply just too large for the Scottish overall economy to assist. The loan provider – which last year changed its title from Royal Financial institution of Scotland – holds about £770bn of assets, almost 5 times Scotland’s GDP.

In her 1st substantive remarks on the probable crack-up of the Union since using demand of the bank in 2019, Ms Rose reported: “In the occasion that there was independence for Scotland our equilibrium sheet would be too large for an unbiased Scottish overall economy.

“And so we would move our registered headquarters, in the occasion of independence, to London.”

The warning comes days before Scots go to the polls to elect a new devolved govt, with the SNP seeking a mandate for a 2nd independence referendum. 

Ms Rose included: “We are neutral on the problem of Scottish independence. It really is some thing for the Scottish folks to choose.”

NatWest employs additional than ten,000 folks north of the border, with the greater part centered in its sprawling Gogarburn headquarters on the outskirts of Edinburgh, which is set in one hundred acres of woodland on the web page of a former psychiatric establishment.

It also lends additional than £5m a day to Scottish households and corporations. 

A NatWest spokesman reported any improve in the bank’s registered headquarters would have no implications on its offices, employees or buyers.

The bank’s previous management said before the 2014 Scottish independence referendum that a certainly vote would force them to move its head office to London. On the other hand, Ms Rose has reported minimal on the problem right up until now.

The move will also increase queries about rival Lloyds Banking Team, which has been registered in Scotland since its merger with HBOS in 2009. A resource at the bank reported is was too early to speculate about any improve. 

Scottish Conservative finance spokesman Murdo Fraser reported RBS’s warning “starkly confirms the extremely actual repercussions for Scottish work and small business if Nicola Sturgeon ever receives her way”.