Banco Santander has made an offer to take over Royal Bank of Scotland’s Williams & Glyn business, according to sources, as part of a long-standing plan to grow its market share in Britain.

Shares in Clydesdale Bank now run by former AIB boss David Duffy rose up to 2.4% yesterday in their London debut, valuing the British lender at about £1.62bn (€2.14bn).

Santander UK is reportedly considering a surprise bid for 300 Royal Bank of Scotland branches in the UK after pulling out of the same deal three years ago.

It may not have been what was first intended when they sang “I am an antichrist, I am an anarchist”, but punk band the Sex Pistols are to lend their name to a new range of credit cards.

The UK Post Office has launched a new brand for its products as it bids to become one of the UK’s biggest financial services providers by the end of the decade.

Virgin Money’s plans for a stock market listing have been revived less than a month after they were put on hold due to turbulent conditions.

Jimmy Choo inched higher on its London stockmarket debut, watched closely by even the least fashion-conscious of bankers after a flurry of cancelled listings across Europe.

Virgin Money has pushed back its plans for a £2bn flotation after the shares offer was hit by recent turbulent market conditions.

Designer shoe brand Jimmy Choo defied turbulent conditions in financial markets today as it pressed ahead with its UK stock market flotation.

Britain’s regulators have given the green light to five new banks since easing rules a year ago for new entrants to challenge the handful of dominant lenders.

TSB will return to the British stock market for the first time in nearly two decades next month after taxpayer-backed owner Lloyds Banking Group announced its long-awaited flotation.

An elite runner from Sierra Leone - who went missing moments after finishing the London Marathon - has been found.

A 42-year-old man has died after collapsing at the finish line of the London Marathon while police are looking to trace a female runner who has not been seen since the race finished.

A 42-year-old man has died after collapsing at the finish line of the London Marathon, organisers said.

Britain’s state-backed lenders are bracing themselves for a flood of interest as a £12bn scheme helping homebuyers obtain mortgages worth up to 95% of property values is launched by the Government today.

TSB will become Britain’s eighth biggest high street bank when it is re-launched today as a standalone brand 18 years after disappearing when it merged with Lloyds.

TSB will become Britain’s eighth biggest high street bank in the UK when it is re-launched next week as a standalone brand 18 years after disappearing when it merged with Lloyds.

Lending under a flagship state scheme in the UK increased between April and June, but small firms remain starved of credit, new figures have revealed.

A British regional bank used by Virgin Money in its assault on the UK retail banking market is to be bought by credit card provider SAV Credit.

A plan to turn 316 branches owned by Royal Bank of Scotland into a state-backed business lender is reportedly being considered in Whitehall.

Britain's Nationwide Building Society is considering making a bid for the 316 branches that Royal Bank of Scotland was due to sell to Santander, it was reported today.

Bailed-out UK bank Royal Bank of Scotland saw its shares come under pressure today as investors weighed up the impact of its collapsed £1.65bn (€2bn) branch sale with Santander.

Newcastle have terminated their shirt deal with Virgin Money early having found a new sponsor

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson insisted there was no need for panic after seeing his title-chasers humbled at Newcastle.

Newcastle have secured a new two-year shirt sponsorship deal with Virgin Money.

Richard Branson's Virgin Money is to buy UK nationalised lender Northern Rock in a £747m (€873.87m) deal, the British Treasury announced today.

The Co-operative Group has said it will put in a renewed bid for 632 branches being sold by Lloyds Banking Group.

Richard Branson’s Virgin Money today looked to be in pole position to land Northern Rock as the auction of the UK's nationalised lender nears its conclusion.

ENTERPRISE Minister Richard Bruton has pledged not to leave any stone unturned in efforts to protect 700 jobs at credit card giant MBNA.

Enterprise Minister Richard Bruton has pledged not to leave any stone unturned in efforts to protect 700 jobs at credit card giant MBNA.

It has been reported today that Virgin Money has expressed an interest in MBNA's credit card business in Carrick-on-Shannon.

Britain's Lloyds Banking Group has received only two bids for the 632 branches it has put up for sale, which could force it to demerge them instead, it was reported today.

Insurance tycoon Clive Cowdery has emerged as a surprise bidder for the 632 bank branches being sold by the UK's Lloyds Banking Group, it was reported today.

An American private equity group is considering a £1bn (€1.13bn) bid for UK nationalised lender Northern Rock, it was reported today.

Fashion house Burberry was the top faller in the FTSE 100 Index today as its stellar annual results were overshadowed by a bout of profit-taking.

Yorkshire Building Society has confirmed talks to merge with rival Norwich & Peterborough as it continues to snap up smaller UK mutuals.

National Australia Bank is understood to be planning a bid for the 600 branches that Lloyds Banking Group is being forced to sell, it was reported today.

One in eight Manchester United fans are planning on sharing the use and cost of their season ticket this season, according to new research.

New jobs in the financial services sector have been announced in the UK.

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 London market closed at its highest level since June 2008 today as Prime Minister Gordon Brown finally fired the starting gun on the general election race.

The FTSE 100 Index strode towards the 5800 mark today on renewed US recovery hopes, but eyes were focussed firmly on the political battle ahead after the Prime Minister confirmed the general election date.

Richard Branson’s Virgin Money launched its assault on the UK retail banking market today after agreeing a deal to buy regional bank Church House Trust.