Spanish bank Santander has confirmed that it is bidding to buy 318 high street branches from the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Spanish bank Santander today looked set to be the only firm bidder in the auction of 318 branches being sold by Royal Bank of Scotland.

THE British Post Office, with partner Bank of Ireland, took a further step along the road to becoming a neighbourhood bank this week with the announcement of a “major expansion” in the financial products it offers.

Britain's so-called “bad banks” of nationalised lender Northern Rock and Bradford & Bingley are to merge under proposals confirmed today.

Nationalised lender Bradford & Bingley posted annual losses of £196m (€218m) today as write-offs on bad debts and fraud almost doubled.

Abbey and Alliance & Leicester parent Santander today said pre-tax profits rose by more than 30% in a “very good” first half performance.

US politicians have been accused of failing to learn the lessons of the Great Depression when they rejected a $700bn (€487bn) bail-out scheme for the banks.

Fraudulent emails about Bradford & Bingley and Halifax have more than tripled as criminals try to cash in on customers’ anxiety, figures showed today.

The European Commission today approved the British government’s rescue package to bail-out mortgage lender Bradford & Bingley.

Struggling UK mortgage lender Bradford & Bingley is to be nationalised, the British government confirmed today.

Details began to emerge today of the deal to save the ailing mortgage lender Bradford & Bingley.

The FTSE 100 Index was in retreat today as uncertainty over the fate of the US banking bail-out unsettled investors.

About 500 UK jobs are being axed at HSBC as part of a worldwide cull within its investment banking division, the group confirmed today.

The FTSE 100 Index posted its first winning session of the week today as renewed optimism over the Fed's massive bail-out plan drove financial stocks higher.

Embattled buy-to-let specialist Bradford & Bingley's prospects as a standalone lender are looking bleak, City analysts warned today.

Struggling mortgage lender Bradford & Bingley said today it is cutting 370 jobs in the UK in a crackdown on costs.

The FTSE 100 Index roared to its biggest-ever one-day gain today as hopes of a solution to the crisis gripping the financial system sent shares soaring.

Shareholders in Alliance & Leicester will gather today to cast their final votes on the mortgage lender’s proposed £1.3bn (€1.6bn) takeover by Spanish banking giant Santander.

Strong gains for oil and banking stocks saw the FTSE 100 Index make good progress today and close at another two-month high.

The FTSE 100 Index overcame a tentative start to post further gains today.

Beleaguered lender Bradford & Bingley today said it had crashed into the red in the first half of 2008, after credit crunch losses and rising bad debts.

The London market was on the back foot today as falling commodity prices put pressure on blue-chip stocks.

Nearly 30% of mortgage lender Bradford & Bingley will end up in the hands of other banks following its £400m (€502.6m) fundraising move, it was revealed today.

A weaker dollar and fluctuating oil prices coloured trading today as the London market slipped into the red.

Troubled lender Bradford & Bingley today said investors had bought more than one in four of the new shares offered under its £400m (€507.2m) fundraising plans.

The former boss of Alliance & Leicester has been lined up as the new chief executive of embattled lender Bradford & Bingley, it was reported today.

The buy-out group involved in Bradford & Bingley's ill-fated capital raising was today reported to be circling another buy-to-let lender.

A much-needed rally for banking stocks helped power the FTSE 100 Index to a gain of more than 2.5% today.

Halifax Bank of Scotland’s £4bn (€5bn) investor cash-call today looked doomed to be one of the biggest failed rights issues ever, despite shares rallying as banks soared higher.

Shareholders in beleaguered buy-to-let lender Bradford & Bingley agreed today to allow the firm to go ahead with its third attempt at a balance sheet boost.

Fears over the US financial sector sent blue chips more than 2% lower today in another turbulent session for the London market.

Britain’s high street banks have agreed to buy a large chunk of shares to rescue troubled Bradford & Bingley, it was reported today.

Bradford & Bingley shares plunged to fresh lows today amid mounting fears that the stock is worthless.

London’s FTSE 100 Index fell nearly 1% today as fresh fears surfaced over the banking sector and weak metals prices held back miners.

Bradford & Bingley’s major shareholders were today stepping in to salvage the lender’s £400m (€505m) funding plan after a US private equity firm walked away from the deal.

The London market was deep in the red today as investors fretted over economic prospects on both sides of the Atlantic.

Bradford & Bingley today said it rejected plans put forward by investment group Resolution to pump £400m (€505m) into the embattled UK mortgage lender.

Banking shares rebounded today as investors bet that Royal Bank of Scotland and HBOS will complete their fundraising rights issues.

IRISH banks suffered huge losses again yesterday as British lender Bradford & Bingley (B&B) warned of losses in the first quarter due to mounting bad debts.

The London market held firm in positive territory today as stocks regained their poise following the turmoil seen yesterday on Bradford & Bingley's profits warning.

Banks led a cautious recovery for the London market today as the dust settled after yesterday’s profit warning from Bradford & Bingley.

There was little sign of a stock market comeback for struggling British lender Bradford & Bingley today after yesterday’s 24% tumble.

The London market endured a turbulent start to the week today as bank shares came under pressure following a profits warning from lender Bradford & Bingley.

Bradford & Bingley sold nearly a quarter of its business today as it moved to shore up its finances in the face of a sharp downturn in trading.