Edinburgh has lost two major bank head offices, while the numbers at the giant campus developed by Royal Bank of Scotland at Gogarburn tell a story, writes Ian McConnell.

Much has changed on Edinburgh’s business and economic scene over a tumultuous few decades, although some important things have remained the same.

These aspects of the Scottish capital have been in the spotlight in recent days, with The Herald’s latest edition of Business HQ Monthly focused on the city.

One of the biggest changes has been Edinburgh’s loss of two major banking headquarters to London.

Royal Bank of Scotland enjoyed great success with its takeover of the much larger NatWest in early 2000. This followed a protracted and fascinating battle between Royal Bank and fellow Edinburgh-based institution Bank of Scotland for NatWest.

In autumn 2008, as the global financial crisis took a lurch for the worse and in the wake of its consortium acquisition of Dutch bank ABN Amro, Royal Bank had to be bailed out by the UK taxpayer, ultimately to the tune of £45.5 billion. Looking back, it is now........

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