UK Bank Ring-Fencing Reform 2026: Treasury Eases Post-Crisis Rules, Unlocks £80bn Lending
HM Treasury set out plans on 18 May 2026 to ease the post-2008 ring-fencing rules on UK banks, with a projected £80 billion in additional business lending. The reforms target the five largest UK banks: Lloyds, NatWest, HSBC, Barclays and Santander UK.