As part of its strategic focus on institutional investors, Scope Ratings is offering credit ratings on a subscription basis only via its credit intelligence platform, ScopeOne.

Upgraded ratings – all now with Stable Outlook – reflect the resilience of the group’s current business model and reassuring credit metrics.

Outlook change reflects the successful reshaping of the group’s business model and reassuring credit metrics

Rating upgrades follow review for possible upgrade initiated on 19 May 2016; affected banking groups are: Barclays Bank plc, HSBC Holdings plc, Lloyds Bank plc, The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, KBC Group NV, Credit Suisse AG, and UBS AG.

Rating actions – on Barclays Bank plc, HSBC Holdings plc, Lloyds Bank plc, The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, KBC Group NV, Credit Suisse AG, and UBS AG – following updated bank rating methodology which addresses ranking of TLAC/MREL senior unsecured debt.

Scope Ratings today has assigned long-term ratings of A to UBS AG, with a stable outlook. This is the first time Scope rates the Swiss banking group.