Retail investors could be sold NatWest stock within 12 months
Taxpayers still own 39 of bank bailed out in financial crisis
NatWest is worst performing FTSE 100 bank stock this year

LONDON, Nov 22 Reuters Britain39;s finance minister Jeremy Hunt said he would explore options for a NatWest share offer to the public in the next 12 months, to allow the government to reduce its stake in the bank.

The government has been slowly reducing its stake in NatWest since bailing out the lender during the 20089 global financial crisis, but retains around 39. The bank was returned to majority private control last year after a string of stock sales, mainly to institutional investors.

I will explore options for a NatWest retail share offer in the next 12 months subject to supportive market conditions and achieving value for money, Hunt said on Wednesday.

The plan forms part of a wider push to reinvigorate interest in UK stocks, the minister said, adding it was time to get Sid investing again.

Tell Sid adverts encouraged millions of ordinary Britons to buy into the privatisations of stateowned companies in the 1980s.

Alasdair Haynes, CEO of share trading platform Aquis Exchange, said the move was a positive first step to attract new retail investors to UK markets, but urged the government to also educate individuals about investments, risks and rewards.

NatWest said decisions around share sales were a matter for the government, but welcomed its commitment to returning the…