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(Alliance News) - Britain's biggest banks have become the latest to scrap billions of pounds in dividends, as businesses scramble to save money by stopping payments to shareholders amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Barclays, Lloyds Banking and NatWest said on Tuesday that they would not be returning money to shareholders via dividends, or buying back their own shares, until the end of the year.
It comes after a request from the Bank of England's Prudential Regulation Authority that they suspend all plans to return money to shareholders.
The banks will also cancel all outstanding dividends from last year.
The PRA said it "welcomes" the decisions of all the UK's biggest banks to suspend dividends and share buybacks until the end of 2020, and cancel any outstanding payments.
Britain's banks have enough capital to weather severe recessions in both the UK and globally, as markets brace for a potentially huge downturn, the PRA said.
"Although the decisions taken today will result in shareholders not receiving dividends, they are a sensible precautionary step given the unique role that banks need to play in supporting the wider economy through a period of economic disruption, alongside the extraordinary measures being taken by the authorities," it added.
Banks are not likely to need the extra money that they save from scrapping dividends, the PRA said, but the extra headroom will allow them to support the economy this year.
The PRA also said it expects banks not to pay any cash bonuses to their top members of staff.
Standard Chartered PLC, NatWest, Santander, the Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC, Nationwide, Lloyds Banking PLC, HSBC Holdings PLC and Barclays PLC have all agreed to cancel dividends, the PRA said.
Barclays shareholders were expected to be paid GBP1.03 billion on Friday, Lloyds shareholders would have pocketed GBP1.58 billion while RBS had expected to pay its shareholders a total of GBP968 million.
RBS Chief Executive Alison Rose said: "RBS has a robust capital and liquidity position and we are focused on ensuring we support our customers and help them to navigate the immediate and longer-term challenges they are facing as a result of Covid-19."
Barclays Chair Nigel Higgins said: "These are difficult decisions, not least in terms of the immediate impact they will have on shareholders.
"The bank has a strong capital base, but we think it is right and prudent, for the many businesses and people that we support, to take these steps now, and ensure that Barclays is well placed to continue doing what we can to help through this crisis."
By August Graham, PA City Reporter
source: PA
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