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RBS puts aside further £3.1bn for US mortgages fine RBS puts aside further £3.1bn for US mortgages fine
(35 minutes later)
Royal Bank of Scotland has set aside a further $3.8bn (£3.1bn) to cover fines in the US, the bank has said.Royal Bank of Scotland has set aside a further $3.8bn (£3.1bn) to cover fines in the US, the bank has said.
The provision is for an expected penalty over the sale of financial products linked to risky mortgages before the 2008 financial crisis.The provision is for an expected penalty over the sale of financial products linked to risky mortgages before the 2008 financial crisis.
RBS, which is 72%-owned by the government, has now put £6.7bn aside to cover US litigation. RBS, which is 72% state-owned, has now put £6.7bn aside to cover litigation by the US Department of Justice (DoJ).
It means the bank is set to report a loss for 2016, the ninth year in a row that RBS has lost money.It means the bank is set to report a loss for 2016, the ninth year in a row that RBS has lost money.
Ross McEwan, RBS's chief executive, said: "Putting our legacy litigation issues behind us, including those relating to US residential mortgage-backed securities, remains a key part of our strategy. Chief executive Ross McEwan has been trying to end RBS's legal wrangles so that the government can sell its stake in the bank, which was the result of a £45.5bn bailout during the financial crisis.
Ministers have shelved plans to sell further shares in the lender, in part because of uncertainty over the scale of the potential DoJ fine.
In a statement, Mr McEwan said: "Putting our legacy litigation issues behind us, including those relating to US residential mortgage-backed securities, remains a key part of our strategy.
"It is our priority to seek the best outcome for our shareholders, customers and employees.""It is our priority to seek the best outcome for our shareholders, customers and employees."
Uncertain outcome
RBS's potential US penalty could fall anywhere between $12bn and $20bn, experts say.RBS's potential US penalty could fall anywhere between $12bn and $20bn, experts say.
It remains to be seen whether the new US administration takes a tougher or more lenient approach to misconduct by European banks.It remains to be seen whether the new US administration takes a tougher or more lenient approach to misconduct by European banks.
RBS said the "duration and outcome" of the investigations into its mortgage selling activities before 2008 were uncertain - including whether a settlement with the Department of Justice could be reached. RBS said the "duration and outcome" of the investigations into its mortgage selling activities before 2008 were uncertain - including whether a settlement with the Department of Justice (DoJ) could be reached.
It also said that "further substantial additional provisions and costs may be recognised" and that other "adverse consequences may occur". It also said that "further substantial additional provisions and costs may be recognised" and that other "adverse consequences may occur".
Most of the big banks have faced litigation over claims they mis-sold toxic mortgage-backed bonds in the run-up to the financial crash.
Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank agreed to pay $5.3bn and $7.2bn to settle their respective mis-selling cases in January.
The DoJ is suing Barclays for alleged mortgage securities fraud after the bank walked away from negotiations in December.