Co-op bank reports after-tax loss of $1.2 billion - Kansas City Star

The bank — a part of Britain largest mutual business — wrote off 496 million pounds in bad loans taken on in the 2009 acquisition of Britannia Building Society.

In its statement Thursday, the bank claimed it was turning things around. A rescue plan has been announced, with parent Co-Op Group pledging to fill a 1.5 billion pound ($2.3 billion) hole in the balance sheet by converting bonds into shares.

Moody's has downgraded the bank's debt and deposit ratings to junk status, arguing that Co-op failed to assess the losses from the Britannia portfolio.