Banks of the United Kingdom are to follow the reform that will protect their customers. The reform will cost banks 7 billion pounds (11 billion dollars). It has been reported by the Independent Commission on Banking (ICB) on September 12, 2011.
According to Reuters, ICB supposes that the current condition of the banking sector allows implementing the reform by 2019. Within the framework of the coming changes the Commission lets banks increase their capital by 17-20% of the total assets and draw line between investment and retail subdivisions.
The UK government has approved the ICB’s offer and noted that the reform will lead to stabilization of the national economy. However, the British Chamber of Commerce concerns that banking market segmentation may limit banks’ ability to give loans to small businesses.
The Financial Times released the news about the sharp slide of the major banks’ shares. Thus, Barclays stocks fell by 4.9%, Royal Bank of Scotland – by 3.3%, Lloyds – by 4.2% and HSBC – by 1.1%.
In March 2011 Head of the Bank of England Mervyn King warned that Great Britain will suffer a new financial crisis if the reform remains not introduced.
