Will the Royal Bank of Scotland ever be as prominent again?
As we move beyond the Sir Fred Goodwin era at the Royal Bank of Scotland there are concerns that the former giant of the UK banking sector will never regain its prominent position in the UK. The Royal Bank of Scotland was one of the most aggressive banking operations in the UK, taking over significant competitors across the world, with a definite focus on the US.
While for a time the various acquisitions negotiated by Sir Fred Goodwin were well received by shareholders, the company was left somewhat high and dry when the recession hit home. Significant write-offs in the US have been followed by significant write-offs in the UK, massive job losses and a UK taxpayer led bailout. The company is unlikely to regain its former prominent position in the UK banking sector in the short to medium term with some suggesting it may be "a busted flush".
The company has become synonymous with the UK recession, the worldwide banking breakdown and the excesses of the UK banking sector. The brakes are certainly being applied by the UK government which now effectively runs the bank, and business will be slow to return.
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