Three former NatWest bankers on Wednesday pleaded guilty to a single charge of wire fraud as part of a deal with US prosecutors aimed at drastically reducing their expected prison terms and accelerating their return to the UK.

David Bermingham, Giles Darby and Gary Mulgrew agreed to serve 37 months and pay $7.3m in restitution to the Royal Bank of Scotland in the plea bargain. Under the deal, the men would be able to request a transfer to the UK once they have begun serving their sentences.