FAR HILLS, N.J., May 14, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS), one of the world's leading
financial services companies, has become a corporate partner of the
United States Golf Association (USGA), the national governing body of
golf in the USA, its territories and Mexico. The four-year agreement
with the USGA features a number of components that will be integrated
across all USGA championships, including the U.S. Open and U.S.
Women's Open. RBS will also support new media platforms and contribute
to the USGA's "For the Good of the Game" initiative, which aims to
introduce golf to new audiences.

"The USGA is honored to have RBS as its corporate partner to help
build awareness for our Association," said USGA President Jim Vernon.
"We are looking forward to working with RBS to support our new media
content for the USGA, including USGA.org and USOpen.com. We are
gratified by their commitment to work with us to introduce the game of
golf to those who would otherwise not have the opportunity through our
'For the Good of the Game' grants initiative."

"We are extremely pleased to be working with the USGA to help
enhance the appreciation of the game for existing USGA Members and
look forward to bringing this wonderful game to a multitude of new
golfers by supporting their 'For the Good of the Game' initiative,"
said Allan Watt, RBS Head of Group Brand Communications.

The USGA partnership will allow RBS to develop and build on its
impressive record as a long-time supporter of the game of golf. RBS
now has ties to three of golf's four majors, as Official Patron
sponsors of The British Open Championship and the PGA Championship.
RBS also partners with 18-time major winner Jack Nicklaus, PGA star
Luke Donald and LPGA star Paula Creamer, who are all RBS golf
Ambassadors.

Among the activities and marketing opportunities RBS will have in
the program are:

-- RBS will make a major contribution to the USGA's "For the Good
of the Game" initiative and will focus on introducing the game
to junior golfers

-- RBS will help develop new media content for the USGA,
including USGA.org and USOpen.com

-- RBS' partnership with the USGA will extend beyond the U.S.
Open and include support for the U.S. Women's Open

The USGA corporate partners program is designed to expand the
organization's communication horizons and help diversify the USGA's
sources of income and reduce expenses so the organization can continue
supporting programs such as the USGA Grants program and USGA amateur
championships.

About The Royal Bank of Scotland Group

The Royal Bank of Scotland Group ("RBS Group") is one of the
world's leading financial services companies providing a range of
retail and corporate banking, financial markets, consumer finance,
insurance, and wealth management services. In 2007, RBS Group posted
total revenue of $57.7 billion and operating profit before tax,
goodwill amortization and integration costs of $20.76 billion. RBS
Group serves more than 40 million personal customers world-wide and
employs more than 168,000 people, including nearly 30,000 in the U.S.

In the U.S., RBS Group owns Citizens Financial Group (retail bank,
credit card and merchant acquiring businesses). Following the
acquisition of Charter One in September 2004 it has grown to become
the eighth largest U.S. bank by deposits with a presence in 13 states.

About The USGA

The USGA is the national governing body of golf in this country
and Mexico, a combined territory that includes more than half the
world's golfers and golf courses.

The Association's most visible role is played out each season in
conducting 13 national championships, including the U.S. Open, U.S.
Women's Open and U.S. Senior Open. Ten additional USGA national
championships are exclusively for amateurs, and include the U.S.
Amateur and the U.S. Women's Amateur.

The USGA also writes the Rules of Golf, conducts equipment
testing, provides expert course maintenance consultations, funds
research for better turf and a better environment, maintains a
Handicap System and administers an ongoing "For the Good of the Game"
grants program, which has allocated more than $59 million over 11
years to successful programs that bring the game's values to youths
from disadvantaged backgrounds and people with disabilities. For more
information about the USGA, visit www.usga.org.

SOURCE: Royal Bank of Scotland Group

USGA
Chris Wightman, 908-234-2300
cwightman@usga.org
or
For RBS
Bill Holtz, 212-300-2402
bholtz@catalystpublicrelations.com

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