NatWest Prepares for Independence After UK Government Ownership Ends

NatWest Group Plc is set to exit government ownership after nearly two decades, marking the final step in shedding its reputation as a beleaguered bank. CEO Paul Thwaite and Chairman Rick Haythornthwaite are building on the firm's shift from recovery to expansion, with acquisitions and plans to target affluent Britons in wealth management and infrastructure projects. The bar for further acquisitions remains high, with a focus on adding scale and capability without changing the bank's direction.