The boss of NatWest has said it would be a “symbolic” moment when the bank returns to private ownership, which could be achieved in the first half of next year. Paul Thwaite, speaking at the Financial Times’ Global Banking Summit, said: “I think it is reasonable to expect that we will be back to private ownership next year, maybe as early as the first half.” The Government has been steadily offloading its share in NatWest since it was bailed out by taxpayers during the 2008 financial crisis.