The Co-operative today insisted its bank did not require government support after a ratings agency warned it may need a taxpayer bail-out.
In a message to reassure customers and members, the Co-op said “we haven’t sought nor do we need government support” and insisted it was taking action to strengthen its bank’s balance sheet.
A downgrade from Moody’s last night saw Co-op Bank’s investment grade rating slashed to “junk” status – followed just hours later by yet another blow as the lender’s chief executive Barry Tootell resigned.
He had been brought in to lead the group’s failed deal to take over more than 600 branches from Lloyds Banking Group.
The group has been at the centre of intense speculation over its financial strength after pulling out of the bid, which is thought to have collapsed as the Co-op Bank struggled to fill a £1 billion shortfall in its reserves to cushion against potential future crises.
It has been working to address this with the disposal of assets, such as its life insurance and asset management arm to Royal London and plans to sell its general insurance business.
But Moody’s said the bank’s capacity to absorb future losses was now too low to support an investment grade rating following hefty losses after rising bad debts and costs linked to its takeover of Britannia Building Society in 2009.
Moody’s added it may need “external” support and said there was “moderate potential for systemic support likely to be forthcoming from the UK authorities”.