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Northern Rock withdrawals at £2bn Northern Rock withdrawals at £2bn
(about 4 hours later)
People with accounts at the Northern Rock have withdrawn almost £2bn since Friday, the BBC's business editor Robert Peston has learned.People with accounts at the Northern Rock have withdrawn almost £2bn since Friday, the BBC's business editor Robert Peston has learned.
And the firm is bracing itself for more withdrawals in the coming days.And the firm is bracing itself for more withdrawals in the coming days.
It is also understood that the Northern Rock was close to being sold to one of two UK banks before it sought emergency funding from the Bank of England. It is also understood that Northern Rock nearly sold itself to rival bank Lloyds TSB, before seeking emergency funding from the Bank of England.
However, these deals fell through because of the difficulty of borrowing money in the current financial climate. However, the deal fell through because of the difficulty of borrowing money in the current financial climate.
Northern Rock chief executive Adam Applegarth told the BBC the bank faced a "hard slog" but was sure the brand would recover.Northern Rock chief executive Adam Applegarth told the BBC the bank faced a "hard slog" but was sure the brand would recover.
However, he would not confirm how much had been withdrawn.However, he would not confirm how much had been withdrawn.
He said he was "absolutely confident" that his customers' money was safe, but that they were welcome to withdraw it if they wished - and that branches would open early on Monday to deal with expected demand.He said he was "absolutely confident" that his customers' money was safe, but that they were welcome to withdraw it if they wished - and that branches would open early on Monday to deal with expected demand.
'Still confidence''Still confidence'
The BBC's business editor said the £2bn withdrawn - which represents about 8% of the £24bn deposits it held on Thursday - was actually less than the mortgage lender had feared. The BBC's business editor said the £2bn withdrawn - which represents about 8% of the £24bn deposits it held on Thursday - was actually less than the mortgage lender and officials at the Bank of England and Financial Services Authority had feared.
However it cannot be certain whether much more will be withdrawn in the coming days, especially from holders of Northern Rock's postal accounts - which contain about £10bn.However it cannot be certain whether much more will be withdrawn in the coming days, especially from holders of Northern Rock's postal accounts - which contain about £10bn.
Plainly, a takeover would have been a less humiliating option. But it just couldn't be done Robert PestonBBC Business Editor Read Robert Peston's blog Rock's online account woes Cameron joins Rock rowPlainly, a takeover would have been a less humiliating option. But it just couldn't be done Robert PestonBBC Business Editor Read Robert Peston's blog Rock's online account woes Cameron joins Rock row
Mortgage banks and building societies such as Alliance & Leicester and Bradford & Bingley, as well as the bigger banks, have seen much of the money withdrawn from Northern Rock, Mr Peston said.Mortgage banks and building societies such as Alliance & Leicester and Bradford & Bingley, as well as the bigger banks, have seen much of the money withdrawn from Northern Rock, Mr Peston said.
This suggested there did "not appear to have been a loss of confidence" in other firms.This suggested there did "not appear to have been a loss of confidence" in other firms.
"Although the risk of contagion has not been eliminated, so far there is no great sign of it," he added."Although the risk of contagion has not been eliminated, so far there is no great sign of it," he added.
The City watchdog, the Financial Services Authority (FSA), has backed comments from the Treasury, saying it is confident that the Northern Rock is solvent and that savers could continue to deposit and withdraw funds.The City watchdog, the Financial Services Authority (FSA), has backed comments from the Treasury, saying it is confident that the Northern Rock is solvent and that savers could continue to deposit and withdraw funds.
"To be absolutely clear, if we believed that Northern Rock was not solvent, we would not have allowed it to remain open for business," FSA chairman Callum McCarthy said."To be absolutely clear, if we believed that Northern Rock was not solvent, we would not have allowed it to remain open for business," FSA chairman Callum McCarthy said.
'Feel the pain' Nervous bidders
The BBC has also learned that two banks were very interested in acquiring the beleaguered firm.The BBC has also learned that two banks were very interested in acquiring the beleaguered firm.
However, they were concerned about doing such a big deal amid turmoil in money markets and when it was difficult and expensive to raise money from other banks and financial institutions.However, they were concerned about doing such a big deal amid turmoil in money markets and when it was difficult and expensive to raise money from other banks and financial institutions.
See what went wrong at Northern RockSee what went wrong at Northern Rock
Mr Peston said the two interested parties sought guarantees from the Bank of England that it would supply facilities to fund Northern Rock's assets - valued at about £113bn - if that money was impossible to obtain on the market - but these were refused. Mr Peston said that Lloyds TSB came closest to buying Northern Rock, but that the bank says it is not interested in a deal - for now.
"The Bank did not want to be seen to be bailing out Northern Rock's shareholders and bondholders," he said. The Bank of England has told our business editor that the emergency lending facility offer to Northern Rock would be transferred to any new owner.
"It feels they need to feel the pain and suffer the losses of their mistake in backing a bank, Northern Rock, whose strategy was flawed. However once the facility expires - and the Bank will not make the expiry date public - there is no guarantee it would be extended for the new owner.
"It is the banking Catch 22 of our time: Northern Rock can't be sold without a guarantee of funding from the Bank of England, but the Bank is refusing to provide such funding to facilitate a sale." "Most bidding banks will remain nervous about taking on a balance sheet of Northern Rock's size with the risk hanging over it of needing to refinance a large chunk of loans from the Bank of England at short notice in markets which may remain frozen," Mr Peston said.
You have got to be more vulnerable (to a sale) if your share price has come down Adam ApplegarthChief executiveNorthern Rock Northern Rock's share priceYou have got to be more vulnerable (to a sale) if your share price has come down Adam ApplegarthChief executiveNorthern Rock Northern Rock's share price
He added that the Bank now had to decide whether to inject billions of pounds into the firm, or "swallow its pride" and allow public money to facilitate a sale.
Northern Rock's realisation that selling the bank had become impossible in current market conditions, persuaded the board to approach the Bank of England and ask for access to emergency loans, Mr Peston said.Northern Rock's realisation that selling the bank had become impossible in current market conditions, persuaded the board to approach the Bank of England and ask for access to emergency loans, Mr Peston said.
"Plainly, a takeover would have been a less humiliating option. But it just couldn't be done.""Plainly, a takeover would have been a less humiliating option. But it just couldn't be done."
Tarnished reputationTarnished reputation
Northern Rock's chief executive Mr Applegarth admitted that the firm may become a takeover target, after its shares fell by 32% on Friday.Northern Rock's chief executive Mr Applegarth admitted that the firm may become a takeover target, after its shares fell by 32% on Friday.
"You have got to be more vulnerable (to a sale) if your share price has come down," he said."You have got to be more vulnerable (to a sale) if your share price has come down," he said.
"It's up to bidders to make a bid.""It's up to bidders to make a bid."
Observers say that besides market conditions, other leading UK banks were unlikely to be falling over themselves to buy the troubled lender.Observers say that besides market conditions, other leading UK banks were unlikely to be falling over themselves to buy the troubled lender.
Besides the costs and difficulty of borrowing money, there is a feeling from some that its name has been tarnished by its need to call on the Bank of England for a bail-out.Besides the costs and difficulty of borrowing money, there is a feeling from some that its name has been tarnished by its need to call on the Bank of England for a bail-out.
Many of its mortgage customers are paying low rates of fixed rate loans and so are likely to move elsewhere - meaning rivals will instead focus on attracting that business, analysts say.Many of its mortgage customers are paying low rates of fixed rate loans and so are likely to move elsewhere - meaning rivals will instead focus on attracting that business, analysts say.
I expect that in a year's time, Northern Rock it will not exist. As a brand it is shot Justin Urquhart StewartAnalystI expect that in a year's time, Northern Rock it will not exist. As a brand it is shot Justin Urquhart StewartAnalyst
The fact that there is little room seen for cost-cutting at the firm, and that it does not have a vast network of branches also work against it, according to observers.The fact that there is little room seen for cost-cutting at the firm, and that it does not have a vast network of branches also work against it, according to observers.
Justin Urquhart Stewart, of Seven Investment Management, said that Northern Rock now had a limited future.Justin Urquhart Stewart, of Seven Investment Management, said that Northern Rock now had a limited future.
"I expect that in a year's time, Northern Rock will not exist," he said."I expect that in a year's time, Northern Rock will not exist," he said.
"As a brand it is shot. The question will be who will own it. It is a great shame. A perfectly good business will be strangled by circumstances.""As a brand it is shot. The question will be who will own it. It is a great shame. A perfectly good business will be strangled by circumstances."
The bank has struggled to raise money to finance its lending ever since money markets seized up over the summer.The bank has struggled to raise money to finance its lending ever since money markets seized up over the summer.
Unlike most banks, which get their money from customers making deposits into savings accounts, Northern Rock is built around its mortgage business.Unlike most banks, which get their money from customers making deposits into savings accounts, Northern Rock is built around its mortgage business.
It raises most of the money which it provides for mortgages by borrowing from banks and other financial institutions.It raises most of the money which it provides for mortgages by borrowing from banks and other financial institutions.
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT NORTHERN ROCK? Mortgage lending Northern Rock lends a large amount for mortgages, and finances this with money from banks and savers Savings Northern Rock receives a relatively small amount of money from saversMoney markets Have stopped lending money to Northern Rock due to the crisis in the US sub-prime mortgage marketBank of England Steps into the breach to give Northern Rock an emergency loan Images: PA, GettyWHAT'S HAPPENING AT NORTHERN ROCK? Mortgage lending Northern Rock lends a large amount for mortgages, and finances this with money from banks and savers Savings Northern Rock receives a relatively small amount of money from saversMoney markets Have stopped lending money to Northern Rock due to the crisis in the US sub-prime mortgage marketBank of England Steps into the breach to give Northern Rock an emergency loan Images: PA, Getty
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