CHOP UP THE BANKS

摘要

The brits are broken. At least their big, bailed-outbanks are. This month, under pressure from EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes, three of Britain's biggest banks, all of which got lavish government support last year, learned they will either be downsized or split up as part of their restructuring efforts. Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland, which received a combined $64 billion in government aid last fall, will have to sell off hundreds of branches and billions in assets, including insurance and Internet banking units.