RBS - ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND, the second largest British bank, has bought up the American bank, CHARTER ONE FINANCIAL (turnover $2.9 billion with $43 billion in assets and 600 agencies) for the sum of around 10.5 billion, i.e. $44.50 per share. The deal will be concluded by CITIZENS FINANCIAL, the American RBS subsidiary, which will thus become the eight largest bank in the United States, with 1,496 branches and 23,900 employed.