OFT has published a report looking at whether public support for Northern Rock had any anti-competitive effects. It took into account that:  

  • a public perception of Northern Rock as "safer" than other banks could distort the personal current account, savings and investment product markets; and  
  • Northern Rock might be able to take advantage of a lower cost of capital to offer mortgages at lower prices and so increase its market share.  

It concluded there was no evidence of anti-competitive effects.