Acquisition Completion

Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC
3 December 2001


THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND GROUP plc ('ROYAL BANK GROUP') COMPLETES
ACQUISITION OF REGIONAL BANKING BUSINESS FROM MELLON FINANCIAL CORPORATION
('MELLON')

The Royal Bank Group's wholly owned subsidiary, Citizens Financial Group Inc,
has completed the acquisition of the regional consumer and business banking
operations of Pennsylvania based Mellon.

This acquisition was announced on 17 July 2001 subject to regulatory consents,
all of which have now been obtained.





Contact:

Howard Moody, Group Director, Communications          Tel: [phone]