RBS says worst may be over: bank posts loss, but bad-loan charges might have peaked; insurance plan likely not needed

Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC's net loss for full-year 2009 narrowed to 3.61 billion pounds sterling from a loss of 24.31 billion pounds in 2008. Impairment charges for bad loans nearly doubled to 13.9 billion pounds. Because of improving economic conditions, the bank does not expect to seek government assistance to insure 282 billion pounds in toxic assets.