NATIONAL WESTMINSTER BANK PLC

British bank holding company with branches and subbranches in the United Kingdom and operations across the world. Headquarters are in London. The organization was formed in 1968 as National Westminster Bank Ltd. to merge two banking groups, National Provincial Bank Ltd. (established in 1833) and Westminster Bank Ltd. (1836). A number of acquisitions and sales of various interests followed in the next decade, including the purchase of the National Bank of North America, a large American bank with branches located throughout the state of New York, in 1979. This American subsidiary changed its name to National Westminster Bank USA in 1983. National Westminster Bank Ltd. reregistered under the present name in 1981. The company engages in domestic and international banking, and related banking services. Domestically the bank provides a full range of banking services. It cooperates with the Bank of England in providing funds for banks experiencing adverse cash positions. The bank has a large international division that provides a complete array of services on both the wholesale and retail levels.