RECORD profits announced by Royal Bank of Scotland have been bolstered by its Channel Islands international operation. The offshore banking arm made ‘a significant contribution’ to the corporation’s success, but officials remained coy about exactly how much.

RBS announced before-tax profits of £5.1bn for the six months to July – up 11% from the same time in 2006.

Regional manager of retail banking for RBSI and NatWest Paul Eva said the company did not release those figures but added it had seen ‘double digit growth’ during the period.

‘It’s been an excellent first half-year for our business in Guernsey and this has been down to our flexibility,’ he said.

‘The strongest growth was in financial institutions and treasury, with record levels of transactions being recorded. This was down to our ability to offer innovative deal structures.

‘An example of this would be our ﾓgreen investmentsﾔ, such as ethanol, wind and solar power.’

RBS has the largest network of branches in the Bailiwick.

Mr Eva said that continuing to provide excellent customer services was a priority for the bank.

‘We are heavily involved within the community by sponsoring the Island Games, supporting Crimestoppers and we have recently announced sponsorship of the Channel Islands cricket championship,’ he said.

‘We are also committed to creating jobs for local people. The common assumption is that we tend to employ expatriates, when this is not the case at all.’

RBS has offered £48bn to take over Dutch bank ABN Amro in competition with Barclays, which has offered £45.6bn.

Mr Eva could not comment on the implications for RBSI if the deal was to go ahead, but said the bank’s future in Guernsey was ‘very rosy’.

‘Look at the investment we have put in here – it underlines our confidence in the Guernsey market.

‘RBSI continues to grow and we look forward to making a contribution in the long-term.

‘We have made a commitment that we intend to stick by.’