The end of the UK’s ‘bailout era’ episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 25, 2025 · 16 MIN

The end of the UK’s ‘bailout era’

from Behind the Money

The Royal Bank of Scotland was once the biggest bank in the world. Then, hubris got the best of it. During the financial crisis the UK government spent £46bn to bail out the bank. Seventeen years and a rebrand to NatWest Group later, the government just sold its last shares in it and officially ended the country’s “bailout era”. The FT’s Akila Quinio analyses what this means for the economy and for NatWest.  Clips from ABC News, BBC, NBC - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:The RBS story: how the world’s biggest bank was nationalised and then rebornNatWest’s freedom dividend has already been cashedNatWest must not forget its chequered past- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Akila Quinio on X (@akilazoe). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Royal Bank of Scotland was once the biggest bank in the world. Then, hubris got the best of it. During the financial crisis the UK government spent £46bn to bail out the bank. Seventeen years and a rebrand to NatWest Group later, the government just sold its last shares in it and officially ended the country’s “bailout era”. The FT’s Akila Quinio analyses what this means for the economy and for NatWest.  Clips from ABC News, BBC, NBC - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:The RBS story: how the world’s biggest bank was nationalised and then rebornNatWest’s freedom dividend has already been cashedNatWest must not forget its chequered past- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Akila Quinio on X (@akilazoe). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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The end of the UK’s ‘bailout era’

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This episode is 16 minutes long.

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This episode was published on June 25, 2025.

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The Royal Bank of Scotland was once the biggest bank in the world. Then, hubris got the best of it. During the financial crisis the UK government spent £46bn to bail out the bank. Seventeen years and a rebrand to NatWest Group later, the government...

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