National Australia Bank, which owns Clydesdale Bank and Yorkshire Bank, said it would be prepared to look at acquisitions in the UK that might be thrown up by banks restructuring amid the current market turmoil.

The bank is one of a number of institutions thought to have been sounded out over nationalised mortgage lender Northern Rock, which is to be split into two parts this year with the “good bank “division – including retail deposits – due to be sold off.