Description of property and equipment
The Group operates from a number of locations worldwide, principally in the UK. At 31 December 2006, the Royal Bank and NatWest had 647 and 1,629 retail branches, respectively, in the UK. Ulster Bank and First Active had a network of 272 branches in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Citizens had 1,608 retail banking offices (including in-store branches) covering Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont. A substantial majority of the UK branches are owned by the Royal Bank, NatWest and their subsidiaries or are held under leases with unexpired terms of over 50 years. The Group’s principal properties include its headquarters at Gogarburn, Edinburgh, its principal offices in London at 135 and 280 Bishopsgate and the Drummond House administration centre located at South Gyle, Edinburgh.
Total capital expenditure on premises (excluding investment properties), computers and other equipment in the year ended 31 December 2006 was £1,140 million (2005 – £1,275 million).
© 2007