Q&A: RBS 'bad bank' explained

The UK government bought the shares in RBS at the height of the crisis at just over 500p a share

Royal Bank of Scotland has announced it will not split itself into separate "good" and "bad" banks.

After reporting the biggest loss in UK corporate history at 2008 at the peak of the financial crisis, RBS was bailed out by the government and remains 81%-owned by the taxpayer.

There was much speculation that the bank would be split in an effort to restore profitability - but now that will not happen.

What is a bad bank?

Why was there speculation that RBS would be split up?

What actually is an "internal bad bank"?

When will the government get its money back?