The UK Government's stake in the Royal Bank of Scotland has decreased from 38% in December 2023 to 4.82% presently, through share sales and buybacks. On February 14, Mr. Thwaite indicated that the government's selling pace indicates the stake sell-down may be completed in the first half of the year. Matt Britzman expressed that a complete return to private ownership would be welcomed by investors awaiting the bank's independence. A spokesperson for NatWest Group confirmed the joint goal with the government to achieve full private ownership for the bank, acknowledging the substantial drop in the Treasury's shareholding.