UK government in line for £1bn payout from NatWest Group stake

Bank to hand dividend to shareholders despite dip in second quarter profits and economic uncertainty'

The UK government is in line for a 1bn payout from its near-50% stake in NatWest Group, despite a dip in the bank's second quarter profits and uncertainty" over the UK's economic outlook.

NatWest revealed on Friday it was poised to issue dividends worth 20.3p a share, after reporting strong growth" in lending and deposits across the business, thanks in part to rising interest rates that meant it could charge borrowers more for loans and mortgages.