Becoming NatWest Group
As lockdown is gradually eased, we are all having to adapt to significant changes to the way we live and work.
The banking industry has a responsibility to help. Banks in the UK must do better than we have in the past. We will rightly be judged against our actions through this crisis and beyond.
By working at pace with politicians, regulators and industry leaders, banks have already delivered extraordinary levels of support in response to unprecedented demand.
We won’t always get everything right. But by demonstrating that we can play a positive role in society, we have an opportunity to earn back some of the trust that has been eroded in recent times.
For our organisation, changing our name from RBS to NatWest Group is an important moment as we build a purposeful bank that champions the potential of our customers, colleagues and communities. In good times and in bad.
Despite the change in Group name, our customers will continue to be served by the brands they bank with today. But we will focus on deepening our relationships to better support them at every stage of their lives.
Through this crisis, we have made more than three hundred thousand phone calls to vulnerable customers, used our premises to support foodbanks and raised ten million pounds by matching customer donations to the National Emergencies Trust. These are every bit as important to me as the billions we have provided in financial support.
Issues around equality, mental health and wellbeing are also causing us to challenge our thinking about what sort of business we want to be.
We have recently built on the targets we set in 2018 to increase BAME representation at senior levels across the bank and continue to make progress against them. At our best, we are an open, inclusive and progressive organisation. But until that is everyone’s experience, every time, we will always have more to do.
There are challenging times ahead for our country. We do not know what shape our economic recovery will take, or how long it might take. For some, things will get worse before they get better.
But we also have a unique opportunity to rebuild better. By promoting financial confidence, removing barriers to enterprise and playing a leading role in tackling climate change, NatWest Group is determined to help.
That is why we are providing ￡3bn of new funding to support our social housing sector, helping to build around 20,000 houses over the next three years
It is also why much of our support for entrepreneurs goes to those who face the highest barriers to entry. A person’s gender or race should not impact their ability to start a business. But all too often they do. If we ignore these issues now, we risk losing an entire generation of entrepreneurs. Through COVID-19, we have migrated our UK accelerator hubs so they could be delivered digitally, with more than a thousand new entrepreneurs joining virtual programmes in April.
In the face of this crisis, it would be all too easy to put climate change to one side. But, if anything, it has highlighted the climate emergency to an even greater degree. Today, we have appointed Lord Stern as an independent climate advisor to guide and support us as we seek to deliver our ambitious targets and drive positive change on this key issue.
Our purpose is more important now than ever before. By championing potential, we will help to create a greener, fairer and more inclusive economy and help the people, families and businesses we serve to recover, rebuild and, ultimately, to thrive.
Because while what we are called is important, it is how we do business that defines us.
Programme Administrator at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, U. of London
4 年I would just like to express the disappointment in the way that Natwest has informed my wife that they are closing her Business Account and can not provide a reason. She has been trading for a few years and has done everything by the books and the turnover has been really good. A few months back, a query had come through from Account Review Team and we have confirmation that all was fine and the Account would not close and then a letter was received that the funds need to be moved within 6 weeks and that everything will be closed. My wife called them and was informed that they do not need to provide a reason. Upto asking other people, I found that Natwest has done this to many Business owners. It would be good to actually get some feed back on what went wrong and how it could be rectified. My wife is in the process of taking this matter further but wants to know why Business Customers are treated this way ?
Managing Director at Microvend Limited
4 年Deliver for your customers?? You're about to lose one. I strongly suggest you get your team in order at the Longton Branch in Stoke on Trent. Every time I visit the branch, I have to queue for at least 45 minutes outside. Today, 50 minutes in the pouring rain. I was drenched. I complained to a female member of staff about the waiting time and asked how much longer I would have to wait. I was told, and I quote "be patient, or I will not let you into the branch at all" I didn't get her name but she was blonde and her hands/fingers were covered in tattoos. Alison Rose, this is totally unacceptable. Whatever is happening in this branch is not working for me as a customer, nor the dozens of other people constantly waiting outside for sometimes up to an hour and a half. I strongly suggest an investigation and review of what can be done to reduce these ridiculous queuing times. It's just not good enough.
Retired or just not working right now.
4 年I worked there for 37 years and am delighted to hear of the name change. I only hope that the bullying culture that was so institutionalised when I worked there will be as consigned to history as the name RBS will be.
Management Consultant | MBA | Lean Six Sigma Green Belt| CSM
4 年I wish the group all the best. Been associated with the Bank for more than 10 years, I had experienced the changes the bank went through, of rebuild and recovery, and becoming simpler but at the time stayed strong in its commitment to the customers. I'm glad that I was able to learn and contribute to the bank's vision in many ways.