London (dpa) - Britain's biggest mortgage lender, Halifax Bank of
Scotland (HBOS), is expected to become the second major bank to ask
shareholders to bolster its finances through a rights issue, it was
reported Monday.

HBOS was preparing to ask shareholders to raise 4 million pounds (8
million dollars) to make up for estimated writedowns of 3 billion
pounds.

The plans were due to be made public at HBOS's annual general meeting in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday.

Last week, the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) called on shareholders
to provide a record 12 billion pounds to improve its balance sheet,
weakened by credit crunch-related losses and the acquisition of Dutch
bank ABN Amro last year.

The Financial Times reported Monday that RBS would "kick-start" the
integration of ABN Amro's investment banking unit by cutting 7,000 out
of 28,000 jobs globally. dpa at wjh