Royal Bank of Scotland said it is confident of meeting market expectations for full-year profit amid strong revenue growth and good credit quality.
Britain's second-biggest bank was referring to an analysts' consensus estimate of about £7.9 billion ($15.3 billion) for 2004 pre-tax profit, excluding goodwill and integration costs, up from £7.15 billion a year earlier.
The bank also said it expected new accounting standards that take effect next year to reduce 2004 earnings per share, excluding goodwill and integration, by between 2 and 3 per cent.
Basic earnings per share will rise by more than 10 per cent because goodwill on acquisitions will no longer be amortised, the bank added.