London, 20 October 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service (Moody's) today took an action on
six UK banks. The rating agency:
- Downgraded the long-term deposit ratings of three UK banks
to A1 from Aa3: HSBC Bank plc (HSBC Bank), Lloyds Bank plc
(Lloyds Bank) and Santander UK plc (Santander UK) and changed the outlooks
on these ratings to stable from negative.
- Affirmed the A1 long-term deposit ratings of National
Westminster Bank Plc (NatWest Bank), and changed the outlook on
these ratings to stable from positive.
- Downgraded the long-term issuer and senior unsecured debt
ratings -- where applicable -- of four banks: HSBC Bank,
HSBC UK Bank plc (HBUK), Lloyds Bank and Santander UK, and
changed the outlook on these ratings to stable from negative.
- Downgraded the long-term Counterparty Risk Ratings (CRR)
and long-term Counterparty Risk Assessments (CR Assessment) of
four banks to Aa3 and Aa3(cr) from Aa2 and Aa2(cr), respectively:
HSBC Bank, Barclays Bank UK PLC (Barclays Bank UK), Lloyds
Bank and Santander UK.
- Maintained a Strong+ Macro Profile for the UK.
A full list of affected ratings and assessments can be found at the end
of this Press Release.
The action on UK banks was driven by Moody's downgrade, on 16 October
2020, of the Government of the United Kingdom's sovereign debt rating
to Aa3 with stable outlook from Aa2 with negative outlook. For
further information on the sovereign rating action, please refer
to Moody's press release published on 16 October 2020: Moody's downgrades
the UK's ratings to Aa3, outlook stable (https://www.moodys.com/research/--PR_434172).
RATINGS RATIONALE
The downgrade of the UK sovereign debt rating to Aa3 from Aa2 led to a
reduction in the uplift for government support provided to the long-term
deposit ratings, senior unsecured debt ratings, CRRs and CR
Assessments for the UK banks with the highest ratings, said Moody's.
Moody's includes in its ratings the benefit from potential government
support based upon the willingness and the capacity of a government to
support banks in case of need. Moody's maintained an assessment
of a moderate probability of support from the Government of the UK for
the depositors and operating liabilities of the banks affected by today's
action. However, such support in some cases no longer provides
rating uplift given the lower UK sovereign debt rating.
At the same time, Moody's maintained a Strong+ Macro
Profile for the UK, reflecting the rating agency's unchanged
view of the country's operating environment.
-- HSBC BANK, LLOYDS BANK AND SANTANDER UK
Moody's downgraded the long-term deposit ratings, senior
unsecured debt ratings, and issuer ratings -- where applicable
- of HSBC Bank, Lloyds Bank and Santander UK to A1 with stable
outlook from Aa3 with negative outlook, and the long-term
CRRs and CR Assessments to Aa3 and Aa3(cr) from Aa2 and Aa2(cr),
respectively.
The action reflects the proximity of these ratings and assessments to
the lower UK sovereign debt rating. With an Aa3 sovereign debt
rating, Moody's said that its unchanged view of a moderate
probability of support for the affected ratings and assessments no longer
results in any uplift.
The stable outlooks balance the risk that banks' financial profiles
deteriorate as a result of the current economic shock, with the
potential notch of government support that the rating agency could assign
should the unsupported long-term deposit ratings, senior
unsecured debt ratings, and issuer ratings fall further below the
UK sovereign debt rating.
-- HBUK
Moody's downgraded the senior unsecured and long-term issuer
ratings of HBUK to A1 with stable outlook from Aa3 with negative outlook.
The action reflects the proximity of these ratings to the lower UK sovereign
debt rating. With an Aa3 sovereign debt rating, Moody's
said that its unchanged view of a moderate probability of support for
the affected ratings no longer results in any uplift.
The stable outlook balances the risk that HBUK's financial profile
deteriorates as a result of the current economic shock, with the
potential notch of government support that the rating agency could assign
should the unsupported long-term deposit ratings fall further below
the UK sovereign debt rating.
HBUK's long-term deposit ratings of Aa3 with negative outlook,
the Aa2 long-term CRRs and the Aa2(cr) long-term CR Assessment
were not affected by today's action because they do not incorporate
uplift from government support due to their proximity to the UK's
sovereign debt rating.
-- BARCLAYS BANK UK
Moody's downgraded the long-term CRRs and CR Assessments
of Barclays Bank UK to Aa3 and Aa3(cr) from Aa2 and Aa2(cr), respectively.
The action reflects the proximity of these ratings and assessments to
the lower UK sovereign debt rating. With an Aa3 sovereign debt
rating, Moody's said that its unchanged view of a moderate
probability of support for the affected ratings and assessments no longer
results in any uplift.
-- NATWEST BANK
Moody's today affirmed the A1 long-term deposit ratings of
NatWest Bank, and changed the outlook on these ratings to stable
from positive.
The stable outlook balances the potential benefit coming from years of
restructuring with a potentially lower uplift from government support
should the unsupported long-term deposit ratings move up towards
the UK sovereign debt rating.
All the other ratings and assessments of NatWest Bank were not affected
by today's action.
FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGS
The affected long-term deposit ratings, senior unsecured
debt ratings, issuer ratings, CRRs and CR Assessments could
be upgraded following an improvement in the standalone creditworthiness
of the banks, or an upgrade of the UK sovereign debt rating.
The long-term deposit, senior unsecured debt ratings,
and issuer ratings could also be upgraded following a significant increase
in the stock of more junior bail-in-able liabilities.
The affected ratings and assessments could be downgraded following a substantial
deterioration in the standalone creditworthiness of the banks or following
a significant reduction in the stock of bail-in-able liabilities.
The ratings and assessments of HSBC Bank could also be downgraded following
a deterioration in the creditworthiness of its ultimate parent,
HSBC Holdings plc (senior unsecured debt A2 with negative outlook,
Baseline Credit Assessment a2).
LIST OF AFFECTED RATINGS
Issuer: HSBC Bank plc
..Downgrades:
....Long-term Counterparty Risk Ratings,
downgraded to Aa3 from Aa2
....Long-term Bank Deposits,
downgraded to A1 from Aa3, outlook changed to Stable from Negative
....Long-term Counterparty Risk Assessment,
downgraded to Aa3(cr) from Aa2(cr)
....Long-term Issuer Rating,
downgraded to A1 from Aa3, outlook changed to Stable from Negative
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture,
downgraded to A1 from Aa3, outlook changed to Stable from Negative
....Senior Unsecured Medium-Term Note
Program, downgraded to (P)A1 from (P)Aa3
..Outlook Action:
....Outlook changed to Stable from Negative
Issuer: HSBC Bank plc, Sydney Branch
..Downgrades:
....Long-term Counterparty Risk Ratings,
downgraded to Aa3 from Aa2
....Long-term Bank Deposits,
downgraded to A1 from Aa3, outlook changed to Stable from Negative
....Long-term Counterparty Risk Assessment,
downgraded to Aa3(cr) from Aa2(cr)
..Outlook Action:
....Outlook changed to Stable from Negative
Issuer: HSBC UK Bank Plc
..Downgrades:
....Long-term Issuer Ratings,
downgraded to A1 from Aa3, outlook changed to Stable from Negative
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture,
downgraded to A1 from Aa3, outlook changed to Stable from Negative
....Senior Unsecured Medium-Term Note
Program, downgraded to (P)A1 from (P)Aa3
..Outlook Action:
....Outlook changed to Negative(m) from Negative
Issuer: National Westminster Bank Plc
..Affirmations:
....Long-term Bank Deposits,
affirmed A1, outlook changed to Stable from Positive
..Outlook Action:
....Outlook changed to Stable(m) from Positive
Issuer: The Royal Bank of Scotland plc
..Affirmations:
....Long-term Bank Deposits,
affirmed A1, outlook changed to Stable from Positive
..Outlook Action:
....Outlook changed to Stable(m) from Positive
Issuer: Ulster Bank Limited
..Affirmations:
....Long-term Bank Deposits,
affirmed A1, outlook changed to Stable from Positive
..Outlook Action:
....Outlook changed to Stable(m) from Positive
Issuer: Bank of Scotland plc
..Downgrades:
....Long-term Counterparty Risk Ratings,
downgraded to Aa3 from Aa2
....Long-term Bank Deposits,
downgraded to A1 from Aa3, outlook changed to Stable from Negative
....Long-term Counterparty Risk Assessment,
downgraded to Aa3(cr) from Aa2(cr)
....Long-term Issuer Rating,
downgraded to A1 from Aa3, outlook changed to Stable from Negative
....Backed Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture,
downgraded to A1 from Aa3, outlook changed to Stable from Negative
..Outlook Action:
....Outlook changed to Stable from Negative
Issuer: HBOS plc
..Downgrades:
....Long-term Counterparty Risk Ratings,
downgraded to Aa3 from Aa2
....Long-term Counterparty Risk Assessment,
downgraded to Aa3(cr) from Aa2(cr)
....Long-term Issuer Rating,
downgraded to A1 from Aa3, outlook changed to Stable from Negative
..Outlook Action:
....Outlook changed to Stable from Negative
Issuer: HBOS Treasury Services Ltd
..Downgrades:
....Backed Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture,
downgraded to A1 from Aa3, outlook changed to Stable from Negative
..Outlook Action:
....Outlook changed to Stable from Negative
Issuer: Lloyds Bank plc
..Downgrades:
....Long-term Counterparty Risk Ratings,
downgraded to Aa3 from Aa2
....Long-term Bank Deposits,
downgraded to A1 from Aa3, outlook changed to Stable from Negative
....Long-term Counterparty Risk Assessment,
downgraded to Aa3(cr) from Aa2(cr)
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture,
downgraded to A1 from Aa3, outlook changed to Stable from Negative
....Backed Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture,
downgraded to A1 from Aa3, outlook changed to Stable from Negative
....Senior Unsecured Shelf, downgraded
to (P)A1 from (P)Aa3
....Senior Unsecured Medium-Term Note
Program, downgraded to (P)A1 from (P)Aa3
..Outlook Action:
....Outlook changed to Stable from Negative
Issuer: Santander Financial Services plc
..Downgrades:
....Long-term Counterparty Risk Ratings,
downgraded to Aa3 from Aa2
....Long-term Bank Deposits,
downgraded to A1 from Aa3, outlook changed to Stable from Negative
....Long-term Counterparty Risk Assessment,
downgraded to Aa3(cr) from Aa2(cr)
....Long-term Issuer Ratings,
downgraded to A1 from Aa3, outlook changed to Stable from Negative
..Outlook Action:
....Outlook changed to Stable from Negative
Issuer: Santander UK plc
..Downgrades:
....Long-term Counterparty Risk Ratings,
downgraded to Aa3 from Aa2
....Long-term Bank Deposits,
downgraded to A1 from Aa3, outlook changed to Stable from Negative
....Long-term Counterparty Risk Assessment,
downgraded to Aa3(cr) from Aa2(cr)
....Long-term Issuer Rating,
downgraded to A1 from Aa3, outlook changed to Stable from Negative
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture,
downgraded to A1 from Aa3, outlook changed to Stable from Negative
....Senior Unsecured Shelf, downgraded
to (P)A1 from (P)Aa3
....Senior Unsecured Medium-Term Note
Program, downgraded to (P)A1 from (P)Aa3
..Outlook Action:
....Outlook changed to Stable from Negative
Issuer: Barclays Bank UK PLC
..Downgrades:
....Long-term Counterparty Risk Ratings,
downgraded to Aa3 from Aa2
....Long-term Counterparty Risk Assessment,
downgraded to Aa3(cr) from Aa2(cr)
..Negative Outlook not affected
PRINCIPAL METHDOLOGY
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Banks Methodology
published in November 2019 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1147865.
Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com
for a copy of this methodology.
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
For further specification of Moody's key rating assumptions and
sensitivity analysis, see the sections Methodology Assumptions and
Sensitivity to Assumptions in the disclosure form. Moody's
Rating Symbols and Definitions can be found at: https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_79004.
For ratings issued on a program, series, category/class of
debt or security this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures
in relation to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the
same series, category/class of debt, security or pursuant
to a program for which the ratings are derived exclusively from existing
ratings in accordance with Moody's rating practices. For ratings
issued on a support provider, this announcement provides certain
regulatory disclosures in relation to the credit rating action on the
support provider and in relation to each particular credit rating action
for securities that derive their credit ratings from the support provider's
credit rating. For provisional ratings, this announcement
provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the provisional
rating assigned, and in relation to a definitive rating that may
be assigned subsequent to the final issuance of the debt, in each
case where the transaction structure and terms have not changed prior
to the assignment of the definitive rating in a manner that would have
affected the rating. For further information please see the ratings
tab on the issuer/entity page for the respective issuer on www.moodys.com.
For any affected securities or rated entities receiving direct credit
support from the primary entity(ies) of this credit rating action,
and whose ratings may change as a result of this credit rating action,
the associated regulatory disclosures will be those of the guarantor entity.
Exceptions to this approach exist for the following disclosures,
if applicable to jurisdiction: Ancillary Services, Disclosure
to rated entity, Disclosure from rated entity.
The ratings have been disclosed to the rated entity or its designated
agent(s) and issued with no amendment resulting from that disclosure.
These ratings are solicited. Please refer to Moody's Policy
for Designating and Assigning Unsolicited Credit Ratings available on
its website www.moodys.com.
Regulatory disclosures contained in this press release apply to the credit
rating and, if applicable, the related rating outlook or rating
review.
Moody's general principles for assessing environmental, social
and governance (ESG) risks in our credit analysis can be found at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1133569.
The below contact information is provided for information purposes only.
Please see the ratings tab of the issuer page at www.moodys.com,
for each of the ratings covered, Moody's disclosures on the
lead rating analyst and the Moody's legal entity that has issued
the ratings.
The Lead Rating Analyst for HSBC Bank plc, HSBC Bank plc,
Sydney Branch, HSBC UK Bank plc, National Westminster Bank
Plc, The Royal Bank of Scotland plc and Ulster Bank Limited credit
ratings is Edoardo Calandro, Vice President - Senior Analyst,
Financial Institutions Group, JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456,
Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454.
The Lead Rating Analyst for Barclays Bank UK PLC, Lloyds Bank plc,
HBOS plc, Bank of Scotland plc, HBOS Treasury Services Ltd,
Santander UK plc and Santander Financial Services plc credit ratings is
Alessandro Roccati, Senior Vice President, Financial Institutions
Group, JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456, Client Service:
44 20 7772 5454.
The person who approved National Westminster Bank Plc, The Royal
Bank of Scotland plc and Ulster Bank Limited credit ratings is Nicholas
Hill, MD - Banking, Financial Institutions Group,
JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456, Client Service: 44 20
7772 5454. The person who approved Lloyds Bank plc, HBOS
plc, Bank of Scotland plc, HBOS Treasury Services Ltd,
Santander UK plc and Santander Financial Services plc credit ratings is
Laurie Mayers, Associate Managing Director, Financial Institutions
Group, JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456, Client Service:
44 20 7772 5454. The person who approved HSBC Bank plc, HSBC
Bank plc, Sydney Branch, HSBC UK Bank plc and Barclays Bank
UK PLC credit ratings is Ana Arsov, MD - Financial Institutions,
Financial Institutions Group, JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376,
Client Service: 1 212 553 1653.
Please see www.moodys.com for any updates on changes to
the lead rating analyst and to the Moody's legal entity that has issued
the rating.
Please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com
for additional regulatory disclosures for each credit rating.
Edoardo Calandro
Vice President - Senior Analyst
Financial Institutions Group
Moody's Investors Service Ltd.
One Canada Square
Canary Wharf
London E14 5FA
United Kingdom
JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456
Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454
Laurie Mayers
Associate Managing Director
Financial Institutions Group
JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456
Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454
Alessandro Roccati
Senior Vice President
Financial Institutions Group
JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456
Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454
Releasing Office:
Moody's Investors Service Ltd.
One Canada Square
Canary Wharf
London E14 5FA
United Kingdom
JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456
Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454
