Royal Bank of Scotland is bracing for a costly court battle with shareholders that is to see former boss Fred Goodwin defend his role in the lender's near collapse during the financial crisis.

State-backed Royal Bank of Scotland will begin a new chapter today as New Zealander Ross McEwan takes over the helm.

Royal Bank of Scotland may face further legal action over a £12bn rights issue.

Royal Bank of Scotland boss Stephen Hester has broken his silence after waiving a near-£1m bonus, saying that recent media coverage about the bank had been personalised and discomforting.

Ex-banker Fred Goodwin has had his knighthood removed, it was announced today.

Bank chiefs in the UK who steer major institutions to the rocks and damage the economy could face jail under new laws being considered by ministers, it emerged last night.

Royal Bank of Scotland was brought to its knees by “multiple poor decisions” and its £50bn (€59bn)“gamble” on buying Dutch bank ABN Amro, a damning report in Britain confirmed today.

Poor management decisions and the last Labour government’s light-touch regulatory regime were key factors in the near-collapse of Royal Bank of Scotland, a long-awaited report by the City watchdog said today.

FIFA boss Sepp Blatter has been named the 'biggest villain' of the past decade, ahead of figures such as Simon Cowell and Tiger Woods.

Lawyers for The Sun newspaper in the UK will ask for an injunction banning the identity of the well-known footballer at the centre of a controversial privacy ruling to be lifted, the newspaper said on its website.

The most senior judges in England and Wales have been accused of trying to gag the media after criticising politicians who have deliberately disclosed the content of privacy cases covered by injunctions.

The controversial £7.7m (€8.78m) pay package awarded to Royal Bank of Scotland's boss is expected to be given the all-clear by the British government today despite a widespread backlash over the deal.

The City regulator in the UK today bowed to pressure and said it hoped to reveal details of its inquiry into the collapse of Royal Bank of Scotland by the end of March.

The City regulator today defended its decision to take no action against bosses at part-nationalised Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), but said new rules were needed to punish bankers who take too many risks.

The City watchdog today ruled out action against former bosses at Royal Bank of Scotland after finding no evidence of fraud or dishonest activity in the lead-up to the financial crisis.

Royal Bank of Scotland has brought in a team of advisers to help sell its insurance business Direct Line after a flurry of interest from potential buyers - including American billionaire Warren Buffett, it was claimed today.

Part-nationalised Royal Bank of Scotland was today fined £28.6m (€31.8m) for breaking competition law after revealing details of its loan prices to rival Barclays.

Disgruntled investors in Royal Bank of Scotland will gather today to consider a possible legal action against the former directors of the part-nationalised bank.

Royal Bank of Scotland boss Stephen Hester's move to defer part of his £9.6m (€11.14m) pay package for an extra two years was welcomed today by a shareholder lobby group.

The FTSE 100 Index edged back into positive territory today despite weaker-than-expected official sales figures putting pressure on retailers.

Royal Bank of Scotland today said former boss Fred Goodwin had volunteered a “substantial reduction” to his controversial pension.

Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell suffered a dramatic shareholder revolt today amid fury over its recent pay awards.

The last member of former Royal Bank of Scotland boss Fred Goodwin's failed top team is set to leave the group with a £517,000 (€585,529)-a-year pension.

Part-nationalised Royal Bank of Scotland’s clear-out of Fred Goodwin’s former regime continued today after finance director Guy Whittaker agreed to step down.

Part-nationalised Royal Bank of Scotland's finance director is to step down, it was reported today.

BP shareholders registered their anger at senior directors’ pay and their connections to Royal Bank of Scotland by only narrowly passing the firm’s remuneration report today.

The spectre of Royal Bank of Scotland will haunt BP today as its chairman faces a shareholder vote amid claims his role at the bank raises doubt over his suitability.

BP chairman Peter Sutherland today faced calls for his head amid claims his senior role at Royal Bank of Scotland raised doubts over his suitability.

Scotland international Michael Stewart believes banned pair Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor have been wrongly vilified.

Former Royal Bank of Scotland boss Fred Goodwin is not considering a “voluntary reduction” in his £703,000-a-year pension, sources said today.

Beleaguered Royal Bank of Scotland shareholders will voice their fury after a catastrophic year for the bank at its annual meeting today.

The British government’s investment arm is understood to be planning a protest vote against former Royal Bank of Scotland boss Fred Goodwin’s controversial pension, it was reported today.

A detailed probe is being drawn up into Fred Goodwin’s 10-year stint in charge of bailed-out Royal Bank of Scotland.

Huge payouts to executives at banks bailed out by the British government were under scrutiny tonight amid legal moves to claw back any unnecessary payments.

Gordon Brown today voiced his “anger” over the £693,000 (€776,283)-a-year pension awarded to the former boss of Royal Bank of Scotland, Fred Goodwin, which the UK prime minister described as “unjustifiable and unacceptable”.

Former Royal Bank of Scotland boss Fred Goodwin has written to the Treasury indicating he will not voluntarily give up his pension, it was revealed tonight.

British Chancellor Alistair Darling urged failed banking boss Fred Goodwin to give up his £650,000 (€726,831) pension today - threatening legal action if he fails to act voluntarily to end the controversy.

Part-nationalised Royal Bank of Scotland is set to unveil the biggest annual loss in UK corporate history after a catastrophic 2008.

Angry union leaders will meet bosses at Royal Bank of Scotland today to discuss restructuring plans that they fear could lead to 20,000 job losses.

Royal Bank of Scotland is this week set to unveil a dramatic restructuring in which assets worth several hundred billion pounds will be put up for sale.

Royal Bank of Scotland is set to reveal a savage worldwide cost-cutting drive that could lead to the loss of up to 20,000 jobs, it was reported today.

Former bosses at bailed-out UK banks Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and HBOS said they were "profoundly sorry" today and admitted they under-estimated the extent of the financial crisis.