Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage and NatWest settle ‘debanking’ dispute

(Reuters) -Eurosceptic UK politician Nigel Farage and NatWest Group have settled their dispute over the bank’s handling of a decision to close Farage’s accounts, according to a joint statement released on Wednesday.

The terms of the settlement were confidential, the statement said, putting an end to a nearly two-year politically-charged dispute with the Reform UK party leader that cost NatWest its former CEO Alison Rose, prompted a review and attracted regulatory scrutiny.

Last year, Britain also proposed a law that required banks to give customers a three-months notice and an explanation before closing their accounts.

Terminating banking services became a political issue after Farage, who did more than anyone else to force Britain’s 2016 Brexit vote on leaving the European Union, said his account at NatWest-owned private bank Coutts was closed due to his political views.

(Reporting by Unnamalai L and Pushkala Aripaka in Bengaluru and Sinead Cruise in London; Editing by Alan Barona)

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