![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/nigel-farage-natwest-boss-admits-serious-error-in-bank-closure-row/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/130485146_gettyimages-1248856514.jpg&description=Image source, Getty Images The boss of NatWest has admitted a "serious error" in talking about Nigel Farage's relationship with its private banking arm Coutts. Dame Alison Rose said she was wrong to respond to questions from the BBC about Mr Farage's account being closed. The ex-UKIP leader had demanded NatWest explain how his financial information was made public as the row over his bank account closure escalated. NatWest said it still had full confidence in Dame Alison at the helm. Dame Alison's apology comes after the BBC apologised on Monday for its inaccurate report earlier this month which said Mr Farage's account was closed because he no longer met the wealth threshold for Coutts, citing a source familiar with the matter. Mr Farage later secured a Coutts report which indicated his political views were also considered. The banking group has been under mounting pressure to explain how information about Mr Farage's account closure had been disclosed. In her first admission that she had been involved, Dame Alison said in conversations with BBC business editor Simon Jack "she had confirmed that Mr Farage was a Coutts customer and he had been offered a NatWest bank account". She said she had believed this was public knowledge. The NatWest boss said she did not reveal any personal financial information about Mr Farage. "In response to a general question about eligibility criteria required to bank with Coutts and NatWest I said that guidance on both was publicly available on their websites. "In doing so, I recognise that I left Mr Jack with the impression that the decision to close Mr Farage's accounts was solely a commercial one," she added. When Coutts decided to close Mr Farage's account, he said it did not give him a reason. Mr Farage subsequently obtained a document looking at his suitability as a Coutts customer. The 40-page document flagged concerns that he was "xenophobic and racist", and also questioned the reputational risk of having Mr Farage as a client.){kind=link}
The boss of NatWest has admitted a “serious error” in talking about Nigel Farage’s relationship with its private banking arm Coutts.
Dame Alison Rose said she was “wrong” to respond to questions from the BBC about Mr Farage’s account being closed.
The ex-UKIP leader had demanded NatWest explain how his financial information was made public as the row over his bank account closure escalated.
NatWest said it still had full confidence in Dame Alison at the helm.
Dame Alison’s apology comes after the BBC apologised on Monday for its inaccurate report earlier this month which said Mr Farage’s account was closed because he no longer met the wealth threshold for Coutts, citing a source familiar with the matter.