Royal Bank of Scotland Earnings 2010-12-31

Balance Sheet	Income Statement	Cash Flow

20-F 1 dp21779_20f.htm FORM 20-F

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

_______________________________________________

FORM 20-F

(Mark One)
o	REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
	OR
x	ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
	For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010
	OR
o	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
	OR
o	SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission file number: 001-10306

THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND GROUP plc

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

United Kingdom

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

RBS Gogarburn, PO Box 1000, Edinburgh EH12 1HQ, United Kingdom

(Address of principal executive offices)

Aileen Taylor, Group Secretary, Tel: +44 (0) 131 626 4099, Fax: +44 (0) 131 626 3081

PO Box 1000, Gogarburn, Edinburgh EH12 1HQ

(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Name of each exchange on which registered
American Depositary Shares, each representing 20 ordinary shares, nominal value £0.25 per share	New York Stock Exchange
Ordinary shares, nominal value £0.25 per share	New York Stock Exchange*
American Depositary Shares Series F, H, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T and U each representing one Non-Cumulative Dollar Preference Share, Series F, H, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T and U respectively	New York Stock Exchange
Dollar Perpetual Regulatory tier one securities, Series 1	New York Stock Exchange

Senior Floating Rate Notes due 2013	New York Stock Exchange
3.400% Senior Notes due 2013	New York Stock Exchange
3.250% Senior Notes due 2014	New York Stock Exchange
3.950% Senior Notes due 2015	New York Stock Exchange
4.875% Senior Notes due 2015	New York Stock Exchange
4.375% Senior Notes due 2016	New York Stock Exchange
5.625% Senior Notes due 2020	New York Stock Exchange
6.125% Senior Notes due 2021	New York Stock Exchange

______________________________________

* Not for trading, but only in connection with the registration of American Depositary Shares representing such ordinary shares pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

_______________

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:

None

_______________

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of December 31, 2010, the close of the period covered by the annual report:

Ordinary shares of 25 pence each	58,458,130,868	Non-cumulative dollar preference shares, Series F, H and L to U	209,609,154
B Shares	51,000,000,000	Non-cumulative convertible dollar preference shares, Series 1	64,772
Dividend Access Share	1	Non-cumulative euro preference shares, Series 1 to 3	2,044,418
11% cumulative preference shares	500,000	Non-cumulative convertible sterling preference shares, Series 1	14,866
5½% cumulative preference shares	400,000	Non-cumulative sterling preference shares, Series 1	54,442

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

x Yes o No

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

o Yes x No

Note – Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 from their obligations under those Sections.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

x Yes o No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

o Yes o No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer x Accelerated filer o Non-Accelerated filer o

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:

o U.S. GAAP

x International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board

o Other

If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.

o Item 17 o Item 18

If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

o Yes x No

SEC Form 20-F cross reference guide

Item	Item Caption	Pages
PART I
1	Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers	Not applicable

2	Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable	Not applicable

3	Key Information
	Selected financial data	8-9, 299-302, 333-334, 341, 375-376
	Capitalisation and indebtedness	Not applicable
	Reasons for the offer and use of proceeds	Not applicable
	Risk factors	7, 352-369

4	Information on the Company	12-16, 58, 74-132, 269-270, 273-274, 279-280, 333-341
	History and development of the Company	5-6, 170-171, 281-282, 380-381, 399
	Business overview	5-6, 170-171, 318-323, 342-345
	Organisational structure	5-6, 275
	Property, plant and equipment	279-280, 345

4A	Unresolved Staff Comments	Not applicable

5	Operating and Financial Review and Prospects
	Operating results	6, 8-58, 270-272, 342-345
	Liquidity and capital resources	57-58, 66-84, 241-268, 270-274, 279-280, 301-302, 308, 315-317, 340-341
	Research and development, patents, licences etc	Not applicable
	Trend information	5-7, 352-369
	Off balance sheet arrangements	157-160, 307-308
	Contractual obligations	74-80, 303-305

6	Directors, Senior Management and Employees
	Directors and senior management	166-169
	Compensation	187-204, 230-237, 324
	Board practices	173, 175-182, 189-190,197-203
	Employees	27, 171, 230-231
	Share ownership	200-202, 205

7	Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions
	Major shareholders	173, 345
	Related party transactions	324-326
	Interests of experts and counsel	Not applicable

8	Financial Information
	Consolidated statements and other financial information	170, 207-331, 376
	Significant changes	6, 326

Item	Item Caption	Pages

9	The Offer and Listing
	Offer and listing details	374-375
	Plan of distribution	Not applicable
	Markets	373
	Selling shareholders	Not applicable
	Dilution	Not applicable
	Expenses of the issue	Not applicable

10	Additional Information
	Share capital	Not applicable
	Memorandum and articles of association	380-389
	Material contracts	345-350
	Exchange controls	380
	Taxation	377-380
	Dividends and paying agents	Not applicable
	Statement of experts	Not applicable
	Documents on display	389
	Subsidiary information	Not applicable

11	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk	59-164, 241-265, 270-274

12	Description of Securities other than Equity Securities	351


PART II
13	Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies	Not applicable

14	Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds	Not applicable

15	Controls and Procedures	183, 184, 208

16	[Reserved]
	A Audit Committee Financial Expert	179-182
	B Code of Ethics	171, 389
	C Principal Accountant Fees and Services	179-182, 237
	D Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees	Not applicable
	E Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers	Not applicable
	F Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant	Not applicable
	G Corporate Governance	175-178

PART III
17	Financial Statements	Not applicable

18	Financial Statements	207-331

19	Exhibits	400-402

	Signature	403

Form 20-F	Business review
	Contents

2	Presentation of information
4	Forward-looking statements
5	Description of business
6	Recent developments
6	Competition
7	Risk factors
8	Key financials
9	Summary consolidated income statement
12	Analysis of results
25	Divisional performance
54	Consolidated balance sheet
57	Cash flow
58	Capital resources
59	Risk and balance sheet management
59	Introduction
66	Balance sheet management
66	- Capital
74	- Funding and liquidity risk
83	- Interest rate risk
84	- Structural foreign currency exposures
85	- Equity risk
86	Risk management
86	- Credit risk
133	- Market risk
139	- Insurance risk
139	- Operational risk
142	- Regulatory risk
143	- Reputation risk
143	- Pension risk
144	- Other risk exposures
161	Asset Protection Scheme

Presentation of information

Business review

In this document, and unless specified otherwise, the term ‘company’ or ‘RBSG’ means The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc, ‘RBS’, ‘RBS Group’ or the ‘Group’ means the company and its subsidiaries, ‘the Royal Bank’ means The Royal Bank of Scotland plc and ‘NatWest’ means National Westminster Bank Plc.

The company publishes its financial statements in pounds sterling (‘£’ or ‘sterling’). The abbreviations ‘£m’ and ‘£bn’ represent millions and thousands of millions of pounds sterling, respectively, and references to ‘pence’ represent pence in the United Kingdom (‘UK’). Reference to ‘dollars’ or ‘$’ are to United States of America (‘US’) dollars. The abbreviations ‘$m’ and ‘$bn’ represent millions and thousands of millions of dollars, respectively, and references to ‘cents’ represent cents in the US. The abbreviation ‘€’ represents the ‘euro’, the European single currency, and the abbreviations ‘€m’ and ‘€bn’ represent millions and thousands of millions of euros, respectively.

Certain information in this report is presented separately for domestic and foreign activities. Domestic activities primarily consist of the UK domestic transactions of the Group. Foreign activities comprise the Group's transactions conducted through those offices in the UK specifically organised to service international banking transactions and transactions conducted through offices outside the UK.

The geographic analysis in the Business Review, including the average balance sheet and interest rates, changes in net interest income and average interest rates, yields, spreads and margins in this report have been compiled on the basis of location of office - UK and overseas. Management believes that this presentation provides more useful information on the Group's yields, spreads and margins of the Group's activities than would be provided by presentation on the basis of the domestic and foreign activities analysis used elsewhere in this report as it more closely reflects the basis on which the Group is managed. ‘UK’ in this context includes domestic transactions and transactions conducted through the offices in the UK which service international banking transactions.

The results, assets and liabilities of individual business units are classified as trading or non-trading based on their predominant activity. Although this method may result in some non-trading activity being classified as trading, and vice versa, the Group believes that any resulting misclassification is not material.

International Financial Reporting Standards

As required by the Companies Act 2006 and Article 4 of the European Union IAS Regulation, the consolidated financial statements of the Group are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and interpretations issued by the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee of the IASB (together ‘IFRS’) as adopted by the European Union. They also comply with IFRS as issued by the IASB.

RBS Holdings N.V. (formerly ABN AMRO Holding N.V.)

In 2007, RFS Holdings B.V., which was jointly owned by RBSG, the Dutch State (successor to Fortis) and Santander (the “Consortium Members”) completed the acquisition of ABN AMRO Holding N.V..

RFS Holdings B.V. has now substantially completed the separation of the business units of ABN AMRO Holding N.V.. As part of this reorganisation, on 6 February 2010, the businesses of ABN AMRO Holding N.V. acquired by the Dutch State were legally demerged from those acquired by the Group and were transferred into a newly established company, ABN AMRO Bank N.V. (save for certain assets and liabilities acquired by the Dutch State that were not part of the legal separation and which will be transferred to the Dutch State as soon as possible).

Legal separation of ABN AMRO Bank N.V. occurred on 1 April 2010, with the shares in that entity being transferred by ABN AMRO Holding N.V (renamed RBS Holdings N.V. at legal separation) to a holding company called ABN AMRO Group N.V., which is owned by the Dutch State.

Following legal separation, RBS Holdings N.V. has one direct subsidiary, The Royal Bank of Scotland N.V. (RBS N.V.), a fully operational bank within the Group. RBS N.V. is independently rated and regulated by the Dutch Central Bank. Certain assets within RBS N.V. continue to be shared by the Consortium Members.

Presentation of information continued

Business review

Statutory results

The statutory results of the Group include the results and financial position of RFS Holdings, the entity that acquired ABN AMRO (see page 2). The interests of the State of the Netherlands and Santander are included in non-controlling interests.

Glossary

A glossary of terms is detailed on pages 390 to 395.

Forward-looking statements

Business review

Certain sections in this document contain ‘forward-looking statements’ as that term is defined in the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, such as statements that include the words ‘expect’, ‘estimate’, ‘project’, ‘anticipate’, ‘believes’, ‘should’, ‘intend’, ‘plan’, ‘could’, ‘probability’, ‘risk’, ‘Value-at-Risk (VaR)’, ‘target’, ‘goal’, ‘objective’, ‘will’, ‘endeavour’, ‘outlook’, ‘optimistic’, ‘prospects’ and similar expressions or variations on such expressions.

In particular, this document includes forward-looking statements relating, but not limited to: the Group’s restructuring plans, capitalisation, portfolios, net interest margin, capital ratios, liquidity, risk-weighted assets, return on equity (ROE), cost:income ratios, leverage and loan:deposit ratios, funding and risk profile; the Group’s future financial performance; the level and extent of future impairments and write-downs; the protection provided by the Asset Protection Scheme (APS); and the Group’s potential exposures to various types of market risks, such as interest rate risk, foreign exchange rate risk and commodity and equity price risk. These statements are based on current plans, estimates and projections, and are subject to inherent risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. For example, certain of the market risk disclosures are dependent on choices about key model characteristics and assumptions and are subject to various limitations. By their nature, certain of the market risk disclosures are only estimates and, as a result, actual future gains and losses could differ materially from those that have been estimated.

Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those estimated by the forward-looking statements contained in this document include, but are not limited to: the full nationalisation of the Group or other resolution procedures under the Banking Act 2009; the global economy and instability in the global financial markets, and their impact on the financial industry in general and on the Group in particular; the financial stability of other financial institutions, and the Group’s counterparties and borrowers; the ability to complete restructurings on a timely basis, or at all, including the disposal of certain Non-Core assets and assets and businesses required as part of the EC State Aid restructuring plan; organisational restructuring; the ability to access sufficient funding to meet liquidity needs; the extent of future write-downs and impairment charges caused by depressed asset valuations; the inability to hedge certain risks economically; costs or exposures borne by the Group arising out of the origination or sale of mortgages or mortgage-backed securities in the United States; the value and effectiveness of any credit protection purchased by the Group; unanticipated turbulence in interest rates, yield curves, foreign currency exchange rates, credit spreads, bond prices, commodity prices, equity prices and basis, volatility and correlation risks; changes in the credit ratings of the Group; ineffective management of capital or changes to capital adequacy or liquidity requirements; changes to the valuation of financial instruments recorded at fair value; competition and consolidation in the banking sector; HM Treasury exercising influence over the operations of the Group; the ability of the Group to attract or retain senior management or other key employees; regulatory or legal changes (including those requiring any restructuring of the Group’s operations) in the United Kingdom, the United States and other countries in which the Group operates or a change in United Kingdom Government policy; changes to regulatory requirements relating to capital and liquidity; changes to the monetary and interest rate policies of the Bank of England, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and other G7 central banks; impairments of goodwill; pension fund shortfalls; litigation and regulatory investigations; general operational risks; insurance claims; reputational risk; general geopolitical and economic conditions in the UK and in other countries in which the Group has significant business activities or investments, including the United States; the ability to achieve revenue benefits and cost savings from the integration of certain of RBS Holdings N.V.’s (formerly ABN AMRO Holding N.V.) businesses and assets; changes in UK and foreign laws, regulations, accounting standards and taxes, including changes in regulatory capital regulations and liquidity requirements; the participation of the Group in the APS and the effect of the APS on the Group’s financial and capital position; the ability to access the contingent capital arrangements with HM Treasury; the conversion of the B shares in accordance with their terms; limitations on, or additional requirements imposed on, the Group’s activities as a result of HM Treasury’s investment in the Group; and the success of the Group in managing the risks involved in the foregoing.

The forward-looking statements contained in this document speak only as of the date of this announcement, and the Group does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

The information, statements and opinions contained in this document do not constitute a public offer under any applicable legislation or an offer to sell or solicitation of any offer to buy any securities or financial instruments or any advice or recommendation with respect to such securities or other financial instruments.

Business review

Description of business

Introduction

The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc is the holding company of a large global banking and financial services group. Headquartered in Edinburgh, the Group operates in the United Kingdom, the United States and internationally through its two principal subsidiaries, the Royal Bank and NatWest. Both the Royal Bank and NatWest are major UK clearing banks whose origins go back over 275 years. In the United States, the Group's subsidiary Citizens is a large commercial banking organisation. Globally, the Group has a diversified customer base and provides a wide range of products and services to personal, commercial and large corporate and institutional customers in over 50 countries.

Following placing and open offers in December 2008 and in April 2009, HM Treasury owned approximately 70.3% of the enlarged ordinary share capital of the company. In December 2009, the company issued a further £25.5 billion of new capital to HM Treasury. This new capital took the form of B shares, which do not generally carry voting rights at general meetings of ordinary shareholders but are convertible into ordinary shares and qualify as core tier one capital. Following the issuance of the B shares, HM Treasury's holding of ordinary shares of the company remained at 70.3% although its economic interest rose to 84.4%.

During the year, the company converted non-cumulative convertible preference shares into ordinary shares in the company. As a result, HM Treasury’s holding in the company’s ordinary shares reduced to 67.8% and its economic interest reduced to 82.8%.

The Group had total assets of £1,453.6 billion and owners' equity of £75.1 billion at 31 December 2010. The Group's capital ratios, were a Total capital ratio of 14.0 per cent, a Core Tier 1 capital ratio of 10.7 per cent and a Tier 1 capital ratio of 12.9 per cent, at 31 December 2010.

Organisational structure and business overview

The Group’s activities are organised on a divisional basis as follows:

UK Retail offers a comprehensive range of banking products and related financial services to the personal market. It serves customers through the RBS and NatWest networks of branches and ATMs in the United Kingdom, and also through telephone and internet channels. UK Retail launched the Retail Customer Charter in June 2010 and progress against the commitments made will be formally reported every six months.

UK Corporate is a leading provider of banking, finance, and risk management services to the corporate and SME sector in the United Kingdom. It offers a full range of banking products and related financial services through a nationwide network of relationship managers, and also through telephone and internet channels. The product range includes asset finance through the Lombard brand.

Wealth provides private banking and investment services in the UK through Coutts & Co and Adam & Company, offshore banking through

RBS International, NatWest Offshore and Isle of Man Bank, and international private banking through RBS Coutts.

Global Transaction Services (GTS) ranks among the top five global transaction services providers, offering global payments, cash and liquidity management, and trade finance and commercial card products and services. It includes the Group's corporate money transmission activities in the United Kingdom and the United States.

Ulster Bank is the leading retail and business bank in Northern Ireland and the third largest banking group on the island of Ireland. It provides a comprehensive range of financial services. The Retail Markets division which has a network of 236 branches, operates in the personal and financial planning sectors. The Corporate Markets division provides services to SME business customers, corporates and institutional markets.

US Retail & Commercial provides financial services primarily through the Citizens and Charter One brands. US Retail & Commercial is engaged in retail and corporate banking activities through its branch network in 12 states in the United States and through non-branch offices in other states.

The divisions discussed above are collectively referred to as Retail & Commercial.

Global Banking & Markets (GBM) is a leading banking partner to major corporations and financial institutions around the world, providing an extensive range of debt and equity financing, risk management and investment services to its customers. The division is organised along six principal business lines: money markets; rates flow trading; currencies and commodities; equities; credit and mortgage markets and portfolio management & origination.

RBS Insurance provides a wide range of general insurance products to consumers through a number of well known brands including; Direct Line, Churchill and Privilege. It also provides insurance services for third party brands through its UKI Partnerships division. In the commercial sector, its NIG and Direct Line for Business operations provide insurance products for businesses via brokers or direct respectively. Through its international division, RBS Insurance sells general insurance, mainly motor, in Germany and Italy. In addition to insurance services, RBS Insurance continues to provide support and reassurance to millions of UK motorists through its Green Flag breakdown recovery service and Tracker stolen vehicle recovery and telematics business.

Central Functions comprises Group and corporate functions, such as treasury, funding and finance, risk management, legal, communications and human resources. The Centre manages the Group's capital resources and Group-wide regulatory projects and provides services to the operating divisions.

Business review continued

Business review

Non-Core Division manages separately assets that the Group intends to run off or dispose of. The division contains a range of businesses and asset portfolios primarily from the GBM division, linked to proprietary trading, higher risk profile asset portfolios including excess risk concentrations, and other illiquid portfolios. It also includes a number of other portfolios and businesses including regional markets businesses that the Group has concluded are no longer strategic.

Business Services supports the customer-facing businesses and provides operational technology, customer support in telephony, account management, lending and money transmission, global purchasing, property and other services. Business Services drives efficiencies and supports income growth across multiple brands and channels by using a single, scalable platform and common processes wherever possible. It also leverages the Group's purchasing power and is the Group's centre of excellence for managing large-scale and complex change. For reporting purposes, Business Services costs are allocated to the divisions above. It is not deemed a reportable segment.

Business divestments

To comply with EC State Aid requirements the Group has agreed a series of restructuring measures to be implemented over a four year period from December 2009. This will supplement the measures in the strategic plan previously announced by the Group. These include divesting RBS Insurance, 80.01% of Global Merchant Services and substantially all of RBS Sempra Commodities JV business, as well as divesting the RBS branch-based business in England and Wales and the NatWest branches in Scotland, along with the Direct SME customers across the UK.

Recent developments

Gender equality in insurance contracts

On 1 March 2011, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) upheld a ruling that insurers are no longer allowed to use gender as a rating factor across the Insurance industry. This will have a significant impact on the insurance industry in calculating premiums and determining benefits. The Group is currently working through the findings, and any consequences arising will be rectified by December 2012 in line with the ruling from the ECJ. At this stage, it is not possible to estimate the impact which the ECJ's ruling may have on the Group's businesses, financial position or profitability.

Budget update

On 23 March 2011, the UK Government announced plans to reduce the main rate of corporation tax by a further 1%. From April 2011, the rate will be reduced from 28% to 26% and, by 2014, it will reach 23%. Also announced, was an increase in the rate of the Bank Levy to 0.078% from January 2012.

Personal current accounts

On 29 March 2011, the OFT published its update report in relation to personal current accounts. This noted further progress in improving consumer control over the use of unarranged overdrafts. In particular, the Lending Standards Board has led on producing standards and guidance to be included in a revised Lending Code published on 31 March 2011. The OFT will continue to monitor the market and will consider the need for, and appropriate timing of, further update reports in light of other developments, in particular the work of the Independent Commission on Banking. The OFT intends to conduct a more comprehensive review of the market in 2012.

US dollar clearing activities

On 31 March 2011, the U.S. Department of Justice and RBS N.V. filed a joint status report with the U.S. District Court notifying it that the parties would seek an extension of the duration of RBS N.V.’s deferred prosecution agreement until 31 December 2011. The request states that RBS N.V. and the Department of Justice have agreed to seek the extension to allow RBS N.V. sufficient time to fulfil its obligations under the agreement.

Competition

The Group faces strong competition in all the markets it serves. Banks’ balance sheets have strengthened whilst loan demand has been subdued as many customers have sought to de-lever and the UK economy has proved slow to recover. Competition for retail deposits remains intense as institutions continue to target strong and diverse funding platforms for their balance sheets.

Competition for corporate and institutional customers in the UK is from UK banks and from large foreign financial institutions who are also active and offer combined investment and commercial banking capabilities.

In asset finance, the Group competes with banks and specialised asset finance providers, both captive and non-captive. In European and Asian corporate and institutional banking markets the Group competes with the large domestic banks active in these markets and with the major international banks. In the small business banking market, the Group competes with other UK clearing banks, specialist finance providers and building societies.

In the personal banking segment, the Group competes with UK clearing banks and building societies, major retailers and life assurance companies. In the mortgage market, the Group competes with UK clearing banks and building societies. The ambitions of non-traditional players in the UK market remain strong with retailers and new entrants forming aggressive expansion plans. The Group's life assurance businesses compete with Independent Financial Advisers and life assurance companies.

In the UK credit card market large retailers and specialist card issuers, including major US operators are active in addition to the UK banks. In addition to physical distribution channels, providers compete through direct marketing activity and the internet.

In Wealth Management, The Royal Bank of Scotland International competes with other UK and international banks to offer offshore banking services. Coutts and Adam & Company compete as private banks with UK clearing and private banks, and with international private banks. Competition in wealth management remains strong as banks maintain their focus on competing for affluent and high net worth customers.

RBS Insurance competes in personal lines insurance and, to a more limited extent, in commercial insurance. There is strong competition from a range of insurance companies which now operate telephone and internet direct sales businesses. Competition in the UK motor market remains intense, and price comparison internet sites now play a major role in the marketplace. These sites are now extending their scope to home insurance and other lines. RBS Insurance also competes with local insurance companies in the direct motor insurance markets in Italy and Germany.

In Ireland, Ulster Bank competes in retail and commercial banking with the major Irish banks and building societies, and with other UK and international banks and building societies active in the market. The challenging conditions in the Irish economy persist and many of the domestic Irish banks have required State support and are engaged in significant restructuring actions.

In the United States, Citizens competes in the New England, Mid-Atlantic and Mid-West retail and mid-corporate banking markets with local and regional banks and other financial institutions. The Group also competes in the US in large corporate lending and specialised finance markets, and in fixed-income trading and sales. Competition is principally with the large US commercial and investment banks and international banks active in the US. The economic recovery in the US is proving weaker than expected and loan demand is weak in Citizens’ markets which in turn has dampened the level of competitive pressure in the deposit markets as funding pressures have eased.

Business review continued

Business review

Risk factors

Set out below is a summary of certain risks which could adversely affect the Group. These should not be regarded as a complete and comprehensive statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. A fuller description of these and other risk factors is included on pages 352 to 369.

RBSG or any of its UK bank subsidiaries may face the risk of full nationalisation or other resolution procedures and various actions could be taken by or on behalf of the UK Government, including actions in relation to any securities issued, new or existing contractual arrangements and transfers of part or all of RBSG’s businesses.

The Group’s ability to implement its strategic plan depends on the success of its efforts to refocus on its core strengths and its balance sheet reduction programme. As part of the Group’s strategic plan and implementation of the State Aid restructuring plan agreed with the EC and HM Treasury, the Group is undertaking an extensive restructuring which may adversely affect the Group’s business, results of operations and financial condition and give rise to increased operational risk and may impair the Group’s ability to raise new Tier 1 capital due to restrictions on its ability to make discretionary dividend or coupon payments on certain securities.

The Group’s businesses, earnings and financial condition have been and will continue to be affected by geopolitical conditions, the global economy, the instability in the global financial markets and increased competition. These have resulted in significant changes in market conditions including interest rates, foreign exchange rates, credit spreads, and other market factors and consequent changes in asset valuations.

The Group requires access to sources of liquidity, which have been constrained in recent years, and a failure to access liquidity due to market conditions or otherwise could adversely affect the Group’s financial condition. In addition, the Group’s borrowing costs and its access to the debt capital markets and other sources of liquidity depend significantly on its and the UK Government’s credit ratings.

·	The actual or perceived failure or worsening credit of the Group’s counterparties (including monolines or other credit insurers) or borrowers and depressed asset valuations resulting from poor market conditions have adversely affected and could continue to adversely affect the Group.

·	The value of certain financial instruments recorded at fair value is determined using financial models incorporating assumptions, judgements and estimates that may change over time or may ultimately not turn out to be accurate.

·	The Group’s insurance businesses are subject to inherent risks involving claims on insured events.

The Group’s business performance, financial condition and capital and liquidity ratios could be adversely affected if its capital is not managed effectively or as a result of changes to capital adequacy and liquidity requirements, including those arising out of Basel III implementation (globally or by UK authorities), or if the Group is unable to issue Contingent B Shares to HM Treasury under certain circumstances.

·	The Group could fail to attract or retain senior management, which may include members of the Board, or other key employees, and it may suffer if it does not maintain good employee relations.

·	Any significant developments in regulatory or tax legislation could have an effect on how the Group conducts its business and on its results of operations and financial condition, and the recoverability of certain deferred tax assets recognised by the Group is subject to uncertainty.

The Group is subject to substantial regulation and oversight, and any significant regulatory or legal developments could have an adverse effect on how the Group conducts its business and on its results of operations and financial condition. In addition, the Group is and may be subject to litigation and regulatory investigations that may impact its business, results of operations and financial condition.

·	Operational and reputational risks are inherent in the Group’s operations.

·	The Group may be required to make contributions to its pension schemes and government compensation schemes, either of which may have an adverse impact on the Group’s results of operations, cash flow and financial condition.

As a result of the UK Government’s majority shareholding in the Group they can, and in the future may decide, to exercise a significant degree of influence over the Group including suspending dividends and certain coupon payments, modifying or cancelling contracts or limiting the Group’s operations. The offer or sale by the UK Government of all or a portion of its shareholding in the company could affect the market price of the equity shares and other securities and acquisitions of ordinary shares by the UK Government (including through conversions of other securities or further purchases of shares) may result in the delisting of the Group from the Official List.

The Group’s participation in the APS is costly and complex and may not produce the benefits expected and the occurrence of associated risks may have a material adverse impact on the Group’s business, capital or tax position, financial condition and results of operations. Any changes to the regulatory treatment of the APS may negatively impact the Group’s capital position and any withdrawal from, or termination of, the APS will be costly.

Business review continued

Business review

Key financials

	2010 £m	2009 £m	2008 £m
for the year ended 31 December	2010 £m	2009 £m	2008 £m
Total income	31,868	33,026	20,730
Operating loss before tax	(399)	(2,647)	(25,691)
Loss attributable to ordinary and B shareholders	(1,125)	(3,607)	(24,306)
Cost:income ratio	57%	53%	169%
Basic loss per ordinary and B share from continuing operations (pence)	(0.5p)	(6.3p)	(146.2p)

		2010 £m	2009 £m	2008 £m
at 31 December		2010 £m	2009 £m	2008 £m
Total assets		1,453,576	1,696,486	2,401,652
Funded balance sheet (1)		1,026,499	1,255,032	1,409,093
Loans and advances to customers		555,260	728,393	874,722
Deposits		609,483	756,346	897,556
Owners' equity		75,132	77,736	58,879
Risk asset ratio
	- Core Tier 1	10.7%	11.0%	6.6%
	- Tier 1	12.9%	14.1%	10.0%
	- Total	14.0%	16.1%	14.1%

Note:

(1)	Funded balance sheet represents total assets less derivatives.

Overview of results

The results of RFS Holdings B.V., the entity that acquired ABN AMRO, are fully consolidated in the Group’s financial statements. The interests of the State of the Netherlands and Santander in RFS Holdings are included in non-controlling interests. Legal separation of ABN AMRO Bank N.V. took place on 1 April 2010.

Business review continued

Business review

Summary consolidated income statement

	2010	2009	2008
	£m	£m	£m
Net interest income	14,209	13,388	15,482
Fees and commissions receivable	8,193	8,738	8,855
Fees and commissions payable	(2,211)	(2,790)	(2,444)
Other non-interest income	6,549	8,424	(6,872)
Insurance net premium income	5,128	5,266	5,709
Non-interest income	17,659	19,638	5,248
Total income	31,868	33,026	20,730
Operating expenses	(18,228)	(17,417)	(35,065)
Profit/(loss) before other operating charges and impairment losses	13,640	15,609	(14,335)
Insurance net claims	(4,783)	(4,357)	(3,917)
Impairment losses	(9,256)	(13,899)	(7,439)
Operating loss before tax	(399)	(2,647)	(25,691)
Tax (charge)/credit	(634)	429	2,167
Loss from continuing operations	(1,033)	(2,218)	(23,524)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(633)	(105)	(11,018)
Loss for the year	(1,666)	(2,323)	(34,542)
Non-controlling interests	665	(349)	10,832
Other owners’ dividends	(124)	(935)	(596)
Loss attributable to ordinary and B shareholders	(1,125)	(3,607)	(24,306)

Basic loss per ordinary and B share from continuing operations	(0.5p)	(6.3p)	(146.2p)

Business review continued

Business review

2010 compared with 2009

Operating loss

Operating loss before tax for the year was £399 million compared with a loss of £2,647 million in 2009. The improvement in performance is primarily driven by stronger Core Retail & Commercial operating profits offsetting more normal results from Global Banking & Markets, coupled with lower impairments in the Non-Core division.

After tax, non-controlling interests and preference share and other dividends, the loss attributable to ordinary and B shareholders was £1,125 million, compared with an attributable loss of £3,607 million in 2009.

Total income

Total income decreased 4% to £31,868 million reflecting the return to more normal levels in Global Banking & Markets, compared with the favourable market conditions seen in 2009. This was offset by good growth in Core Retail & Commercial and lower Non-Core trading losses as underlying asset prices recovered and credit spreads tightened.

Net interest income

Net interest income increased by 6% to £14,209 million reflecting improvements in net interest margin which more than offset lower interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. Group net interest margin increased from 1.83% to 2.06% largely reflecting expanding asset margins in UK Retail and UK Corporate divisions as well as in US Retail & Commercial. The run-off of low-yielding Non-Core assets also contributed to this increase. The Group net interest margin was also affected by increased funding costs.

Non-interest income

Non-interest income decreased to £17,659 million from £19,638 million in 2009. This included movements in the fair value of the Asset Protection Scheme - credit default swap resulting in a £1,550 million charge and gain on redemption of own debt of £553 million (2009 - £3,790 million). Excluding these items, non-interest income was up 18% primarily reflecting an increase in income from trading activities.

Operating expenses

Operating expenses increased to £18,228 million (2009 - £17,417 million). The main driver of this 5% increase was the impact of a £2,148 million gains on pension curtailment in 2009. This was partially offset by gains on the recognition of benefits from the Group-wide efficiency programme. The programme continues to deliver material savings which have been funding investments to strengthen our Core franchises. Annualised savings are now just ahead of the £2.5 billion target for 2011 and are forecast to exceed £3 billion by 2013. Integration and restructuring costs were £1,032 million compared with £1,286 million in 2009. Write-down of goodwill and other intangible assets was £10 million compared with £363 million in 2009. Premises and equipment costs fell by 7% in the year largely driven by efficiency cost savings, significant one-off property impairments recognised in 2009 and country exits following Non-Core disposals.

Net insurance claims

Bancassurance and general insurance claims, after reinsurance, increased by 10% to £4,783 million.

Impairment losses

Impairment losses were £9,256 million, compared with £13,899 million in 2009 with Core impairments falling by £898 million and Non-Core by £3,745 million. The decrease reflects an overall improvement in the economic environment. Impairments fell in all businesses, except Ulster Bank, which has faced an economic environment that remains challenging.

Risk elements in lending and potential problem loans represented 7.4% of gross loans and advances to customers excluding reverse repos at 31 December 2010 (2009 - 5.5%).

Provision coverage of risk elements in lending and potential problem loans was 46% (2009 - 45%).

Tax

The tax charge for 2010 was £634 million compared with a tax credit of £429 million in 2009.

Earnings

Basic earnings per ordinary share, including discontinued operations, was a loss of 0.5p per share compared with a loss of 6.4p for 2009.

Business review continued

Business review

2009 compared with 2008

Operating loss

Operating loss before tax for the year was £2,647 million compared with a loss of £25,691 million in 2008. The reduction in the loss is primarily a result of a substantial increase in non-interest income and a substantial fall in the write-down of goodwill and other intangible assets partially offset by a significant increase in impairment losses and lower net interest income.

After tax, non-controlling interests and preference share and other dividends, the loss attributable to ordinary and B shareholders was £3,607 million, compared with an attributable loss of £24,306 million in 2008.

Total income

Total income increased 59% to £33,026 million in 2009 primarily reflecting a significant reduction in credit and other market losses and a gain on redemption of own debt. Increased market volatility and strong customer demand in a positive trading environment also contributed to this improvement. While income was down marginally in UK Corporate and held steady in Retail & Commercial Banking and RBS Insurance, a significant improvement occurred in Global Banking & Markets, reflecting the reduced credit and other market losses and a more buoyant trading market during the year compared to 2008.

Net interest income

Net interest income fell by 14% to £13,388 million, with average loans and advances to customers stable and average customer deposits down 1%. Group net interest margin fell from 2.12% to 1.83% largely reflecting the pressure on liability margins, given rates on many deposit products already at floors in the low interest rate environment, and strong competition, particularly for longer-term deposits and the build up of the Group’s liquidity portfolio.

Non-interest income

Non-interest income increased to £19,638 million from £5,248 million in 2008, largely reflecting the sharp improvement in income from trading activities, as improved asset valuations led to lower credit market losses and GBM benefited from the restructuring of its business to focus on core customer franchises. The Group also recorded a gain of £3,790 million on a liability management exercise to redeem a number of Tier 1 and upper Tier 2 securities. However, fees and commissions fell as a result of the withdrawal of the single premium payment protection insurance product and the restructuring of UK current account overdraft fees, offset by higher fees in businesses attributable to RFS Holdings minority interest.

Operating expenses

Total operating expenses decreased from £35,065 million in 2008 to £17,417 million, largely resulting from the substantial decrease in the write-down of goodwill and other intangible assets, down to £363 million compared with £16,911 million in 2008. Staff costs, excluding curtailment gains, were up 12% with most of the movement relating to adverse movements in foreign exchange rates and some salary inflation. Changes in incentive compensation, primarily in Global Banking & Markets, represented most of the remaining change. This was offset by a gain of £2,148 million arising from the curtailment of prospective pension benefits in the defined benefit scheme and certain other subsidiary schemes. The Group cost:income ratio improved to 53%, compared with 169% in 2008.

Net insurance claims

Bancassurance and general insurance claims, after reinsurance, increased by 11% to £4,357 million.

Impairment losses

Impairment losses increased to £13,899 million from £7,439 million in 2008, with Core bank impairments rising by £2,182 million, Non-Core by £4,285 million off set by a decrease in RFS Holdings minority interest of £7 million. Signs that impairments might be plateauing appear to have been borne out in the latter part of the year, and there are indications that the pace of downwards credit rating migration for corporates is slowing. Nonetheless, the financial circumstances of many consumers and businesses remain fragile, and rising refinancing costs, whether as a result of monetary tightening or of increased regulatory capital requirements, could expose some customers to further difficulty.

Impairments represented 1.9% of gross loans and advances, excluding reverse repos, in 2009 compared with 0.8% in 2008.

Risk elements in lending and potential problem loans at 31 December 2009 represented 5.4% of loans and advances, excluding reverse repos, compared with 2.5% a year earlier. Provision coverage was 45%, compared with 51% at 31 December 2008 as a consequence of the growth in risk elements in lending being concentrated in secured, property-related loans. These loans require relatively lower provisions in view of their collateralised nature.

Tax

The effective tax rate for 2009 was 16.2% compared with 8.4% in 2008.

Earnings

Basic earnings per ordinary and B share, including discontinued operations, improved from a loss of 146.7p to a loss of 6.4p.

Business review continued

Business review

Analysis of results

Net interest income

	2010	2009	2008
	£m	£m	£m
Interest receivable	22,776	33,836	49,522
Interest payable	(8,567)	(17,332)	(30,847)
Net interest income	14,209	16,504	18,675

	%	%	%
Gross yield on interest-earning assets of the banking business (1)	3.30	3.76	5.61
Cost of interest-bearing liabilities of the banking business	(1.47)	(2.18)	(3.79)
Interest spread of the banking business (2)	1.83	1.58	1.82
Benefit from interest-free funds	0.23	0.25	0.30
Net interest margin of the banking business (3)	2.06	1.83	2.12

Yields, spreads and margins of the banking business	%	%	%
Gross yield (1)
- Group	3.30	3.76	5.61
- UK	3.42	3.35	5.72
- Overseas	3.15	4.09	5.54
Interest spread (2)
- Group	1.83	1.58	1.82
- UK	2.01	1.50	1.92
- Overseas	1.59	1.67	1.76
Net interest margin (3)
- Group	2.06	1.83	2.12
- UK	2.22	1.81	2.39
- Overseas	1.84	1.85	1.91

The Royal Bank of Scotland plc base rate (average)	0.50	0.64	4.67
London inter-bank three month offered rates (average)
- Sterling	0.70	1.21	5.51
- Eurodollar	0.34	0.69	2.92
- Euro	0.75	1.21	4.63

Notes:

(1)	Gross yield is the interest rate earned on average interest-earning assets of the banking business.

(2)	Interest spread is the difference between the gross yield and the interest rate paid on average interest-bearing liabilities of the banking business.

(3)	Net interest margin is net interest income of the banking business as a percentage of average interest-earning assets of the banking business.

Business review continued

Business review

Average balance sheet and related interest

		2010			2009
		Average balance	Interest	Rate	Average balance	Interest	Rate
		£m	£m	%	£m	£m	%
Assets
Loans and advances to banks	- UK	22,714	222	0.98	21,616	310	1.43
	- Overseas	30,148	369	1.22	32,367	613	1.89
Loans and advances to customers	- UK	310,712	11,989	3.86	333,230	11,940	3.58
	- Overseas	195,858	6,900	3.52	376,382	16,339	4.34
Debt securities	- UK	66,765	1,459	2.19	52,470	1,414	2.69
	- Overseas	63,334	1,837	2.90	84,822	3,220	3.80
Interest-earning assets	- UK	400,191	13,670	3.42	407,316	13,664	3.35
	- Overseas	289,340	9,106	3.15	493,571	20,172	4.09
Total interest-earning assets	- banking business (2,3)	689,531	22,776	3.30	900,887	33,836	3.76
	- trading business (4)	276,330			291,092
Interest-earning assets		965,861			1,191,979
Non-interest-earning assets (2,3)		706,343			831,501
Total assets		1,672,204			2,023,480

Percentage of assets applicable to overseas operations		44.0%			47.4%

Liabilities
Deposits by banks	- UK	21,816	334	1.53	24,837	679	2.73
	- Overseas	59,799	999	1.67	104,396	2,362	2.26
Customer accounts: demand deposits	- UK	120,796	621	0.51	110,294	569	0.52
	- Overseas	39,127	607	1.55	82,177	1,330	1.62
Customer accounts: savings deposits	- UK	68,142	935	1.37	54,270	780	1.44
	- Overseas	25,587	213	0.83	83,388	2,114	2.54
Customer accounts: other time deposits	- UK	39,934	431	1.08	68,625	932	1.36
	- Overseas	43,996	914	2.08	71,315	2,255	3.16
Debt securities in issue	- UK	111,277	2,212	1.99	116,536	2,830	2.43
	- Overseas	72,175	1,065	1.48	117,428	2,500	2.13
Subordinated liabilities	- UK	19,442	398	2.05	26,053	834	3.20
	- Overseas	8,714	19	0.22	12,468	656	5.26
Internal funding of trading business	- UK	(41,451)	(140)	0.34	(60,284)	(317)	0.53
	- Overseas	(6,864)	(41)	0.60	(14,845)	(192)	1.29
Interest-bearing liabilities	- UK	339,956	4,791	1.41	340,331	6,307	1.85
	- Overseas	242,534	3,776	1.56	456,327	11,025	2.42
Total interest-bearing liabilities	- banking business (2,3)	582,490	8,567	1.47	796,658	17,332	2.18
	- trading business (4)	293,993			331,380
Interest-bearing liabilities		876,483			1,128,038
Non-interest-bearing liabilities:
Demand deposits	- UK	46,692			38,220
	- Overseas	23,994			27,149
Other liabilities (3,4)		648,129			772,770
Owners' equity		76,906			57,303
Total liabilities and owners' equity		1,672,204			2,023,480

Percentage of liabilities applicable to overseas operations		41.7%			45.8%

Notes:

(1)	The analysis into UK and Overseas has been compiled on the basis of location of office.

(2)	Interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities include the Retail bancassurance assets and liabilities attributable to policyholders.

(3)	Interest income and interest expense do not include interest on financial assets and liabilities designated as at fair value through profit or loss.

(4)	Interest receivable and interest payable on trading assets and liabilities are included in income from trading activities.

Business review continued

Business review

Average balance sheet and related interest continued

		2008
		Average balance	Interest	Rate
		£m	£m	%
Assets
Loans and advances to banks	- UK	19,039	939	4.93
	- Overseas	31,388	1,417	4.51
Loans and advances to customers	- UK	319,696	19,046	5.96
	- Overseas	393,405	22,766	5.79
Debt securities	- UK	33,206	1,276	3.84
	- Overseas	85,625	4,078	4.76
Interest-earning assets	- UK	371,941	21,261	5.72
	- Overseas	510,418	28,261	5.54
Total interest-earning assets	- banking business (2,3)	882,359	49,522	5.61
	- trading business (4)	425,454
Interest-earning assets		1,307,813
Non-interest-earning assets (2,3)		732,872
Total assets		2,040,685

Percentage of assets applicable to overseas operations		48.6%

Liabilities
Deposits by banks	- UK	46,217	1,804	3.90
	- Overseas	113,592	4,772	4.20
Customer accounts: demand deposits	- UK	99,852	2,829	2.83
	- Overseas	70,399	1,512	2.15
Customer accounts: savings deposits	- UK	42,870	1,708	3.98
	- Overseas	72,473	2,203	3.04
Customer accounts: other time deposits	- UK	94,365	4,011	4.25
	- Overseas	105,660	4,097	3.88
Debt securities in issue	- UK	101,520	4,095	4.03
	- Overseas	132,699	5,846	4.41
Subordinated liabilities	- UK	26,300	1,356	5.16
	- Overseas	12,385	788	6.36
Internal funding of trading business	- UK	(85,664)	(3,445)	4.02
	- Overseas	(18,090)	(729)	4.03
Interest-bearing liabilities	- UK	325,460	12,358	3.80
	- Overseas	489,118	18,489	3.78
Total interest-bearing liabilities	- banking business (2,3)	814,578	30,847	3.79
	- trading business (4)	466,610
Interest-bearing liabilities		1,281,188
Non-interest-bearing liabilities:
Demand deposits	- UK	37,568
	- Overseas	17,625
Other liabilities (3,4)		645,760
Owners' equity		58,544
Total liabilities and owners' equity		2,040,685

Percentage of liabilities applicable to overseas operations		47.2%

Note:

(1)	The analysis into UK and Overseas has been compiled on the basis of location of office.

(2)	Interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities include the Retail bancassurance assets and liabilities attributable to policyholders.

(3)	Interest income and interest expense do not include interest on financial assets and liabilities designated as at fair value through profit or loss.

(4)	Interest receivable and interest payable on trading assets and liabilities are included in income from trading activities.

Business review continued

Business review

Analysis of change in net interest income - volume and rate analysis

Volume and rate variances have been calculated based on movements in average balances over the period and changes in interest rates on average interest-earning assets and average interest-bearing liabilities. Changes due to a combination of volume and rate are allocated pro rata to volume and rate movements.

	2010 over 2009
	Increase/(decrease) due to changes in:
	Average volume	Average rate	Net change
	£m	£m	£m
Interest-earning assets
Loans and advances to banks
UK	15	(103)	(88)
Overseas	(40)	(204)	(244)
Loans and advances to customers
UK	(836)	885	49
Overseas	(6,776)	(2,663)	(9,439)
Debt securities
UK	342	(297)	45
Overseas	(716)	(667)	(1,383)
Total interest receivable of the banking business
UK	(479)	485	6
Overseas	(7,532)	(3,534)	(11,066)
	(8,011)	(3,049)	(11,060)
Interest-bearing liabilities
Deposits by banks
UK	75	270	345
Overseas	845	518	1,363
Customer accounts: demand deposits
UK	(54)	2	(52)
Overseas	670	53	723
Customer accounts: savings deposits
UK	(192)	37	(155)
Overseas	965	936	1,901
Customer accounts: other time deposits
UK	336	165	501
Overseas	708	633	1,341
Debt securities in issue
UK	123	495	618
Overseas	799	636	1,435
Subordinated liabilities
UK	180	256	436
Overseas	152	485	637
Internal funding of trading business
UK	(83)	(94)	(177)
Overseas	(75)	(76)	(151)
Total interest payable of the banking business
UK	385	1,131	1,516
Overseas	4,064	3,185	7,249
	4,449	4,316	8,765
Movement in net interest income
UK	(94)	1,616	1,522
Overseas	(3,468)	(349)	(3,817)
	(3,562)	1,267	(2,295)

Note:

(1)	The analysis into UK and Overseas has been compiled on the basis of location of office.

Business review continued

Business review

Analysis of change in net interest income - volume and rate analysis continued

	2009 over 2008
	Increase/(decrease) due to changes in:
	Average volume	Average rate	Net change
	£m	£m	£m
Interest-earning assets
Loans and advances to banks
UK	113	(742)	(629)
Overseas	43	(847)	(804)
Loans and advances to customers
UK	775	(7,881)	(7,106)
Overseas	(949)	(5,478)	(6,427)
Debt securities
UK	594	(456)	138
Overseas	(38)	(820)	(858)
Total interest receivable of the banking business
UK	1,482	(9,079)	(7,597)
Overseas	(944)	(7,145)	(8,089)
	538	(16,224)	(15,686)
Interest-bearing liabilities
Deposits by banks
UK	683	442	1,125
Overseas	360	2,050	2,410
Customer accounts: demand deposits
UK	(268)	2,528	2,260
Overseas	(228)	410	182
Customer accounts: savings deposits
UK	(369)	1,297	928
Overseas	(306)	395	89
Customer accounts: other time deposits
UK	881	2,198	3,079
Overseas	1,175	667	1,842
Debt securities in issue
UK	(540)	1,805	1,265
Overseas	609	2,737	3,346
Subordinated liabilities
UK	13	509	522
Overseas	(5)	137	132
Internal funding of trading business
UK	(795)	(2,333)	(3,128)
Overseas	(112)	(425)	(537)
Total interest payable of the banking business
UK	(395)	6,446	6,051
Overseas	1,493	5,971	7,464
	1,098	12,417	13,515
Movement in net interest income
UK	1,087	(2,633)	(1,546)
Overseas	549	(1,174)	(625)
	1,636	(3,807)	(2,171)

Note:

(1)	The analysis into UK and Overseas has been compiled on the basis of location of office.

Business review continued

Business review

Non-interest income

	2010	2009	2008
	£m	£m	£m
Fees and commissions receivable	8,193	8,738	8,855
Fees and commissions payable	(2,211)	(2,790)	(2,444)
Income/(loss) from trading activities
- excluding Asset Protection Scheme credit default swap - fair value changes	6,067	3,761	(9,025)
- Asset Protection Scheme credit default swap - fair value changes	(1,550)	—	—
Gain on redemption of own debt	553	3,790	—
Other operating income	1,479	873	2,153
Non-interest income (excluding insurance net premium income)	12,531	14,372	(461)
Insurance net premium income	5,128	5,266	5,709
Total non-interest income	17,659	19,638	5,248

2010 compared with 2009

Net fees and commissions increased by £34 million to £5,982 million primarily due to improved performance in GBM (£139 million), driven by higher portfolio management and origination income, and UK Corporate (£94 million), principally reflecting strong refinancing levels and increased operating lease activity This increase was partially offset by reduced fees in UK Retail (£160 million) and Ulster Bank (£72 million) principally reflecting the restructuring of current account overdraft fees.

Income from trading activities, excluding fair value movements in the Asset Protection Scheme credit default swap, rose substantially during the year by £2,306 million to £6,067 million. Trading revenues in GBM were lower than 2009, which saw unusually buoyant market conditions as rapidly falling interest rates generated significant revenue opportunities. This was more than offset by the improvement in Non-Core trading losses from £5,123 million for 2009 to £16 million for 2010 as underlying asset prices recovered and monoline spreads tightened. The unwinding of some banking book hedges also helped reduce trading losses.

The Asset Protection Scheme is accounted for as a credit derivative, and movements in the fair value of the contract are recorded as income from trading activities. The charge of £1,550 million in 2010 reflects improving credit spreads on the portfolio of covered assets.

A gain of £553 million was booked associated with the liability management exercise undertaken in May 2010, through which the Group strengthened its Core Tier 1 capital base by repurchasing existing Tier 1 securities and exchanging selected existing Upper Tier 2 securities for new senior debt securities. A similar series of exchange and tender offers concluded in April 2009 resulted in a gain of £3,790 million.

Other operating income increased by £606 million to £1,479 million. This improvement principally reflected a profit on sale of securities of £496 million compared with £162 million in 2009, higher profits from associated entities and an increased credit of £249 million compared with £51 million in 2009 relating to movements in fair value of own debt. These were partially offset by losses in the fair value of securities and investment properties.

Insurance net premium income fell by £138 million to £5,128 million principally reflecting lower general insurance premiums, driven by a managed reduction in the risk of the UK motor book, largely offset by price increases.

Business review continued

Business review

Non-interest income continued

2009 compared with 2008

Net fees and commissions fell by £463 million primarily due to the withdrawal of the single premium payment protection insurance product and the restructuring of current account overdraft fees within UK Retail during the year, as well as to reduced fees received in Non-Core. This was partially offset by improved performance in GBM (£171 million) and US Retail & Commercial (£50 million).

Income from trading activities rose substantially during the year by £12,786 million, principally due to lower credit market losses reflecting improved underlying asset prices compared with 2009. Increased market volatility and strong customer demand in a positive trading environment also contributed to this improvement.

In the second quarter of 2009 the Group recorded a gain of £3,790 million on a liability management exercise to redeem a number of Tier 1 and upper Tier 2 securities.

Other operating income decreased by £1,280 million. This reflected changes in the fair value of own debt of £926 million together with lower profits on sales of securities and properties and reduced dividend income. Included in 2008 is a gain of £600 million on the sale of Angel Trains.

Insurance net premium income fell by £443 million reflecting lower bancassurance fees, and lower general insurance premiums.

Business review continued

Business review

Operating expenses

	2010	2009	2008
	£m	£m	£m
Staff costs
- excluding gains on pensions curtailment	9,671	9,993	8,898
- gains on pensions curtailment	—	(2,148)	—
Premises and equipment	2,402	2,594	2,163
Other	3,995	4,449	4,716
Administrative expenses	16,068	14,888	15,777
Depreciation and amortisation	2,150	2,166	2,377
Write-down of goodwill and other intangible assets	10	363	16,911
Operating expenses	18,228	17,417	35,065

General insurance	4,698	4,223	3,733
Bancassurance	85	134	184
Insurance net claims	4,783	4,357	3,917

Staff costs as a percentage of total income	30%	30%	43%

2010 compared with 2009

The main driver of a 7% decrease in operating expenses, excluding gains on pensions curtailment, is the recognition of benefits from the Group-wide efficiency programme. The programme continues to deliver material savings which have been funding investments to strengthen our Core franchises. Annualised savings are now just ahead of the £2.5 billion target for 2011 and are forecast to exceed £3 billion by 2013.

Staff costs, excluding pension schemes curtailment gains, fell by £322 million to £9,671 million, driven by savings in Global Banking & Markets, UK Retail and Non-Core partially offset by higher costs in Group Centre.

Premises and equipment costs fell by 7% in the year to £2,402 million largely driven by efficiency cost savings, significant one-off property impairments recognised in 2009 and country exits following Non-Core disposals.

Other expenses fell by £454 million to £3,995 million principally reflecting continued savings from the Group’s efficiency programme.

Insurance net claims increased 10% to £4,783 million, driven by an overall increase in bodily injury reserves, reflecting prior year claims and more claims being settled as periodic payment orders. Severe weather experienced during Q1 and Q4 2010 also drove up claims in the year.

2009 compared with 2008

Staff costs, excluding pension schemes curtailment gains, were up £1,095 million with most of the movement relating to adverse movements in foreign exchange rates and some salary inflation. Changes in incentive compensation, primarily in Global Banking & Markets, represented most of the remaining change.

Pension curtailment gains of £2,148 million were recognised in 2009 arising from changes to prospective pension benefits in the defined benefit scheme and certain other subsidiary schemes.

Premises and equipment costs rose by £431 million primarily due to the impact of expanded Group premises in London and the US.

Other expenses fell by £267 million due to integration benefits in GBM partially offset by increased deposit insurance levies in the US.

Business review continued

20-F	2019-12-31	Filed 2020-02-27
20-F	2018-12-31	Filed 2019-02-28
20-F	2017-12-31	Filed 2018-03-29
20-F	2016-12-31	Filed 2017-03-27
20-F	2015-12-31	Filed 2016-03-24
20-F	2014-12-31	Filed 2015-03-31
20-F	2013-12-31	Filed 2014-04-30
20-F	2012-12-31	Filed 2013-03-27
20-F	2011-12-31	Filed 2012-03-27
20-F	2010-12-31	Filed 2011-03-31
20-F	2009-12-31	Filed 2010-04-27

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RBS 20F Annual Report

Royal Bank of Scotland Earnings 2010-12-31