Ralph Silva said the prospect of any profit was a "pipe dream" unless the economy recovers.  Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds are this week expected to report combined losses of as much as £5BILLION for 2011. Mr Silva, banking expert at SRN Research, said prospects of a recovery at RBS were so bad Chancellor George Osborne should break it up and sell it in chunks.  He said: "The most optimistic estimate of when taxpayers will make their money back is four to five years. But that's if the economy improves. It could be a lot, lot longer. It could be ten years for RBS."  The Government poured £65.8billion into the banks during the credit crisis. Taxpayers hold an 82 per cent stake in RBS and 41 per cent in Lloyds, which saved Halifax Bank of Scotland in 2008. But the disastrous performance of shares has left us sitting on a £30billion loss. RBS shares bought at 50p are now worth 27.5p and Lloyds shares bought at 74p are now at 35.5p.  Manus Costello, of consultants Autonomous, said the Government should sell its RBS shares at a LOSS. He said even selling now would wipe £500million a year from the Treasury's borrowing costs.  WE'RE all in it together on this one. The bailouts cash of £65.8billion is equal to £1,000 per UK citizen.  It's why stratospheric pay or signs of largesse at either RBS or Lloyds jar with the public so much.  It's our cash they are "blowing".  This week it is up to the banks to show us the bailouts were money well spent.  And it is up to Government Ministers to convince us they have a plan for getting our money back.
TAXPAYERS could have to wait 10 YEARS before they get their money back on two huge bank bailouts, a top City guru warns