Coutts has apologised to Nigel Farage after his bank account was closed.

The former UKIP and Brexit Party leader claimed his account was closed down because his views did not align with the firm’s “values”.

Alison Rose, the chief executive, said in a letter: “I am writing to apologise for deeply inappropriate comments about yourself made in the now published papers for the wealth committee. I would like to make it clear that they do not reflect the view of the bank.

“I believe very strongly that freedom of expression and access to banking are fundamental to our society and it is absolutely not our policy to exit a customer on the basis of legally held political and personal views.”

The bank has now offered “alternative banking arrangements” at NatWest