Dame Alison Rose, the former chief executive of NatWest Group PLC (LSE:NWG), has been found guilty by the UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) of breaching data protection laws when she disclosed details about the planned closure of former UKIP leader Nigel Farage's bank accounts to a BBC journalist.
The ICO upheld two parts of Farage's complaint, stating that NatWest shared information inappropriately, infringing Farage's data protection rights.
The ICO emphasised that such actions were "unacceptable" and should not recur.
According to the commissioner, Rose breached Farage’s privacy on two occasions, revealing his banking relationship with Coutts and then providing misleading information that led the BBC to believe the bank was closing his accounts solely for commercial reasons related to his wealth.
In July, the BBC reported that Farage no longer met the financial requirements for a Coutts bank account, citing an anonymous source.
Documents obtained by Farage later revealed that while Coutts had considered his failure to meet the bank's multimillion-pound account thresholds, the decision to close his accounts was also influenced by concerns over his political views.
Coutts contended that Farage's alleged "xenophobic, chauvinistic and racist views" posed a reputational risk.
Rose's resignation in July followed her admission to discussing Farage's banking details with a BBC journalist, a move that raised concerns about client confidentiality and eventually led to her stepping down.
The NatWest board is currently deliberating whether Rose will receive £2.4 million of pay contractually owed to her, in addition to bonuses.
Farage has accused Rose of overseeing a culture of "deep political prejudice" within the NatWest Group and emphasised that she should not be rewarded for her failures.
He has not ruled out taking the matter to court, according to a spokesperson for Farage speaking with The Guardian.