DPA | 02 Oct, 2009
The British government is poised to sell off some of the country's struggling banks bailed out and nationalised in the wake of the global financial meltdown, it was reported Sunday.

Northern Rock, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Lloyds Bank are all set to be sold to the private sector, creating three possible new high-street bank chains.

To increase competition, no existing British financial institution will be permitted to buy up the banks, paving the way for three new bank chains by 2015.

After Northern Rock nearly collapsed in 2007, the British government was forced to step in, and now owns 70 percent of RBS, 43.5 percent of Lloyds, and all of Northern Rock - after billions of pounds of taxpayer bail-outs.

There is speculation in the British media that buyers might include major high-street brands such as Tesco and Virgin.

The new chains are to be standard retail banks concentrating on deposits and mortgages.