Now RBS has failed to hit the so-called "stretch" targets for lending to small businesses, agreed with the Treasury in Project Merlin, by a modest margin.

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As for lending to small business, RBS has to date marginally missed the so-called "stretch" targets it agreed with the government under the Project Merlin agreement - and like all the big banks, it stands accused of not doing enough to support smaller or younger companies that represent the UK's economic future.

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