Clydesdale owner warns of risk to bank from Scottish independence

National Australia Bank (NAB), which owns Glasgow-based Clydesdale Bank, said in its third-quarter trading update on Monday: "the Scottish Independence vote takes place on 18 September and a vote in favour of independence may give rise to significant additional costs and risks for Clydesdale Bank. We continue to closely monitor the situation and have appropriate contingency planning in place."

Yesterday, Mr Salmond refused to reveal his Plan B for an independent Scottish currency before the referendum because he does not want to disclose what he would "settle for" in divorce negotiations with Westminster.

Earlier this year the giant US financial institution Citibank questioned the economic viability of an independent Scotland warning that it would only qualify for only a single-A credit rating — two notches lower than the “gold-plated” grade given to the UK by S&P. Other countries with a single-A rating include Botswana and Trinidad & Tobago.

NAB's concern over the referendum comes as it emerges that one of Scotland's oldest stockbrokers Speirs & Jeffrey has established accounts new companies and bank accounts in England into which to transfer the cash and assets of its clients in the event of a "Yes" vote.

Britain's largest listed company Royal Dutch Shell led a number of FTSE 100 corporations in March to also voice their concern over the vote. Ben van Beurden, chief executive of the Anglo-Dutch oil giant, said: “We’d like to see Scotland remain part of the United Kingdom. Others to express concern include Lloyds and Barclays.

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