Statement re NatWest Bank Offer Press Reports

Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC
16 November 1999

                                                                      
                       The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc
                                      

The  following announcement is being made by The Royal Bank of Scotland Group
plc ('RBS') at the request of the Takeover Panel:

Prior  to 14th November 1999, the Sunday Express obtained unauthorised access
to  an  internal briefing note prepared by one of RBS's advisers,  which  was
subsequently referred to in an article in the Sunday Express on 14th November
1999.  This early draft document, which did not contain quantification of the
pricing  of, or merger benefits arising out of, a possible offer by  RBS  for
National  Westminster Bank Plc, was not prepared to Takeover  Code  standards
and  accordingly  investors should place no reliance on  information  derived
from it.

The  existence  of  the internal briefing note should not be  interpreted  as
constituting evidence of a decision whether or not to make an offer.