Strong All-Around Performance Helps RBS Beat Earnings Expectations

The strong operating performance for Q3 2014 allowed RBS to trounce these high expectations despite having to set aside £780 million ($1.25 billion) in additional legal reserves to cover the ongoing foreign exchange settlement talks. Notably, this is the first time RBS has reported three consecutive quarterly profits since the economic downturn of 2008 - indicative of the fact that the bank has finally been able to put its operational woes behind it.