GBA Case Study: NatWest

During its long history, Royal Bank of Scotland has been at the forefront of SME banking in the UK, serving almost a quarter of all businesses in the country. Recognizing that men were twice as likely to start businesses in the UK as women, the bank began exploring the main barriers hampering the start-up and growth of women’s SMEs, and how it could best meet their needs. With support across senior management, the bank developed the first dedicated Women’s Market program for SMEs in the UK in 2003.

The fifth in the GBA's Case Study series on best practice banks features Women in Business (WiB) champion NatWest, part of the Royal Bank of Scotland. NatWest’s WiB program is now seen as a critical part of the UK business and entrepreneurial community and is considered an example of Women’s Market best practice globally.