Britain's Metro Bank has abandoned its planned sale of a £3 billion mortgage portfolio, citing market conditions.
The bank began exploring the potential sale in October, as part of urgent moves to bolster its balance sheet that led to a £925m rescue package.
Metro said that this refinancing, which was backed by Colombian billionaire Jaime Gilinski, had given it renewed balance sheet strength.
"Given the prevailing market environment, it is in the best interests of shareholders to retain the existing loan portfolio," it said in a statement.
Metro announced a cost reduction plan in November that could see it lay off 20% of its workforce and axe some of its biggest customer benefits, including seven-day opening hours.
Sky News reported last month that Barclays was in exclusive talks to buy the mortgage book. Other potential contenders had included Spain's Santander
