Sir Philip Hampton, the chairman of government-owned bank RBS has offered to meet protestors ahead of lender’s annual meeting in Edinburgh.

Opponents of bank’s lending policies are expected to stage a major protest this week. Environmental, Human rights and anti-poverty groups have been opposing RBS’ lending to fossil fuel and mining firms.

Veteran oil & rainforest campaigner Eriel Tchekwie Deranger is also expected to participate in this week’s protest.

RBS is supporting extraction of tar sands in Canada and Vedanta Resources in India. Vedanta Resources is accused of ruining the lives of thousands of people in one of the poorest regions in India.

Refining of the tar sands is believed to leave behind a toxic combination of chemicals that affects human life.

Stock in RBS jumped 1.95p to 55.8p-a-share, well above the average price of Treasury's total investment, 50.2p-a-share.

RBS received a boost from Barclays Capital opinion that clients should back RBS over Lloyds, which gained 2p to close at 68.48p-a-share.