Anyone think these guy's deserve their pay off? after all they created a business that created jobs for thousands of people. without them there would be higher unemployment. also investors in their companies have done well over the years.

Sunny, Coventry,

Of course they will receive a £multi million pay out. It will already be part of their contract; the manner of their going will ensure they do not lose out. I challenge the Chancellor to make this otherwise!

paul, Worthing, UK

The directors are just as guilty as the CEO & Chairman. If there's any honour left amongst them then they'd all stand down.

John Bull, England,

Dave, despite your entirely valid criticisms of the RBS board, I think you'll find that the Royal Bank of SCOTLAND is quite nicely headquartered in the Scottish Capital - as it should be until bought over or dies.

What sort of iron-age dark backwaters do you think exist north of Watford?

Andy Myles, Edinburgh,

Well, even if they do go, won't they collect £Ms in golden handshakes?

JF, Canterbury, UK

As a member of staff I have total respect for the way the business is run. Yes, mistakes have been made but Sir Fred should not be made the scapegoat. With hindsight the ABN deal was wrong but the timing was very unfortunate. Sir Fred is very well qualified to steer the Bank through tough times.

Scott, Edinburgh,

from wikipedia: "In June 2004, RBS admitted that it owned a Dassault Falcon 900 jet worth £17.5m for the use of Goodwin and the board. Goodwin's salary, nominally around £3.5 million on target including bonuses, for 2006 could top £8 million in cash and shares." that's capitalism and greediness

v. mariblanca, glasgow, scotland

we've all been well and truly stitched up! Fred and Tom - party's over. You've made your millions, time to go.

Ron, Birmingham,

Isn't integrity the most important attribute that a captain of industry should have? It would appear not. It appears that ego and greed are favoured. Had the capacity for honour been rewarded, would we be in the same mess or is that just a silly thought?

Michael, Fetcham, Surrey

Sir Tom was a highly successful CEO at AstraZeneca and any problems at RBS shouldn't be allowed to detract from that. I can't vouch for whether 'Sir' Fred should keep his knighthood.

David, Manchester, UK

Its been brought about by the pure greed of the Banks, not only giving loans to people who couldn't afford them but in trying to beat the 'competition'; other clearing banks and the piggy banks e.g. former building societies and high street retailers, like M&S. Front line staff will again suffer.

graeme, newcastle,

How would Scotland have dealt with the problems with it`s two banks if it was independant from UK? Cap in hand is my guess. Get real Salmond & Co.

Ozzy, Oldham, UK

I worked for RBS in Asia a year ago for 3 years. Their management is totally out of touch. Big bosses are hardly doing anything. Bank needs to reshape its management and day to day running. They employ incompetent people on high positions.

maria, h. kong,

It is a pity some of the shareholders didn't speak up earlier. The shareholders deserve to be punished as much as the execs! Greed wasn't so good this time. I for one have no sympathy.

Gavrilo Prinzip, Bromley, UK

As someone who worked for 10 yrs at both RBS and ABN, I can assure anyone that's interested that the former paid about 49 Billion too much for the latter. Goodwin threw all stakeholders money down the drain and the only surprise to me is that he's still there.

MickyBridges, Chicago, USA

throw them out on the street. RBS is woefully lacking in good management - trust me i've worked there. the place needs all the bail-outs it can get. more skeletons are to come out the closet, just wait and see.

F Ormer, London, UK

These people are clearly incompetent and in any other industry they would have been ousted before now. I hope that this part nationalisation means that from now on bankers pockets will not be lined by the future prosperity funded by the taxpayer.

Mike Collins, Morpeth, uk

And they'll go with a nice fat package, I bet

Sarah, London,

Throw them out on the streets, strip them of their knighthoods and no pay-offs. For 20 years we have all listened to how these people were key to the weath of the country and must be treated like gods - we never believed that rubbish but we were made to swallow it. The public want retribution now.

Chris, Chipping Norton,

why not the whole country to London - and pay everyone billions of bonuses! Is that not what brought down the Finance sector? Get real and get out of London to save costs and get rid of the bonuses.

Ian, Glasgow,

When you look at the rise of RBS since the 90s; that rise was actualy it's decline. Their 'success' was based on fundementaly flawed products to the point that all profits made during this period, where in fact an overall loss.
People like Robert Maxwell was good at that game.
Sack em'

Gino Francesco, Hastings,

Fred the shed should be forced to repay the bonus awarded to him for purchasing ABN amro. Pigs in the trough rewarding themselves for gluttony.

John, Lincoln,

Dollars to doughnuts they're gone by the end of the day. And as 1 of the 18,000, I won't be shedding any tears :)

W Smith, Manchester,

These appalling people must be removed and without any pay off. The arrogance and greed of Sir Fred Goodwin has put at risk a successful and historic institution. Pure hubris led to the buying of ABN in order to beat Barclays. That 49 billion would be very handy today.

M.Paton, epsom,

I'm an RBS shareholder - I say sack both of them. They've brought the bank to its knees - Fred Goodwin with his reckless megalomania and Tom McKillop as the ultimate yes man. Bring the HQ to London or New York - it's stupid stuck up in Edinburgh - no wonder they're all so completely out of touch.

Dave, London,