Plans by Royal Bank of Scotland to sell its 300 branches across England and Wales could provide an attractive opportunity for one of the many contenders looking to snap up unwanted assets in the UK banking market.

The proposals, which would see 312 RBS-branded branches parcelled up and sold to a rival or private equity buyer, or possibly listed as an independent business, are a response to the EU’s desire to reinvigorate competition in a market heavily skewed towards the government-backed banks.