Royal Bank of Scotland slumps to £968m first-quarter loss
Royal Bank of Scotland has reported a first-quarter pre-tax loss of £968 million - more than double last year's figure of £446 million.
Royal Bank of Scotland has reported a first-quarter pre-tax loss of £968 million - more than double last year's figure of £446 million.
The loss reflects the impact of its £1.2 billion payment last month to the Treasury to buy out a crucial part of its £45 billion bailout.
The payment ended a dividend access share (DAS) agreement with the Government which was put in place in 2009 and prevented it paying dividends to any shareholders before the Treasury.
The bank said: "RBS remains on track with its plan to build a strong, simple, fair bank for customers and shareholders."
Income fell from £3.5 billion to £3 billion following the sale of its Citizens business in the US and the decision to dramatically scale back its overseas and investment banking offering.
The cost of restructuring the bank came in at £238 million, with RBS expecting the number to grow to £1 billion for the year.
RBS chief executive Ross McEwan said: "Today's results show the strength and resilience of the bank we are fast becoming. This bank has great brands and great market positions and, piece by piece, we are building a solidly performing, profitable bank doing great things for customers and returning value for shareholders.
"One quarter in, capital remains strong, costs continue to fall, our customer scores are improving and we're seeing growth in the businesses and the markets we like."
On Thursday, RBS warned of a greater-than-expected hit from plans to spin off its Williams & Glyn arm.
The group, which is 73% owned by the taxpayer, also said there was a "significant risk" that it would not meet the deadline to separate the 316-branch Williams & Glyn business by the end of 2017.
It is now looking at other ways to spin off the business, adding that the "overall financial impact on RBS is now likely to be significantly greater than previously estimated" due to complexities of separating the business.
Mr McEwan added that RBS had not seen significant behavioural change in the market as a result of Brexit fears.
However, he added: "Larger corporates are holding back on investment for the next six to eight weeks. We are very well prepared for what may or may not happen."
He said that a return to full-year profit would be dictated by the bank's ongoing restructuring and conduct and litigation liabilities.