UANI

The Royal Bank of Scotland Group owns ABN AMRO, which also does business with Iran. U.S.-based Citizens Financial Group also is owned by The Royal Bank of Scotland Group.

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"ABN AMRO Bank, now owned by Royal Bank of Scotland Group, agreed in 2006 pay $70 million in penalties assessed by U.S. regulators related to alleged dealings with entities from Iran and Libya." (Daily Mail, "Obama to target Lloyd's of London in plan for tougher sanctions on Iran," 10/2/09)

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"A new line of investigation has focused on banking relationships. In December, ABN Amro paid $80m in penalties after it was found to have violated rules on dealing with Iran and Libya, while UBS paid $100m in 2004 after admitting breaches of rules on transactions with Iran, Libya, Cuba and Serbia. Both ABN Amro and UBS have reduced their Iran operations, as has Credit Suisse. But it has emerged that the Justice Department is probing three more banks - HSBC, Standard Chartered and France's BNP Paribas... The Royal Bank of Scotland also operates in Iran, but it is not believed to be the subject of any US regulatory interest." (The Independent, “UK banks caught in Iran sanctions probe,” 2/5/06)

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Iran’s carmaking and shipbuilding sectors are growing quicker than domestic banks can keep up with. In order to function, these industries rely on European loans. Banks providing them include HSBC, BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, Standard Chartered and Royal Bank of Scotland. Some, however, have begun to show caution. Swiss bank UBS has said it was stopping business in Iran because the commercial climate looked unattractive. Credit Suisse has said it will not offer loans to new Iranian clients. (Daily Times, “Iran’s bravado on UN sanctions may ring hollow,” 2/2/06)