Guidance

CMA issues Directions to NatWest about bundling products

Directions issued by the CMA to NatWest to ensure it complies with the SME Banking Undertakings 2002.

Documents

Directions to NatWest

NatWest Group's action plan

Details

In 2002, NatWest (then Royal Bank of Scotland) gave legally-binding undertakings that they would no longer (except for in specific circumstances) make small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) customers open or maintain a business current account in order to get a business loan or a deposit account. This practice is commonly known as ‘bundling’.

Following an investigation, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) concluded that NatWest has breached the undertakings. The CMA has issued NatWest with written directions designed to improve its compliance with the undertakings.

The CMA also publishes an annual report on compliance with the 2002 behavioural undertakings.

Updates to this page

Published 31 August 2022

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