Simultaneously both banks of rowers backed water and the helmsman put the steering-oar hard over.

In early 2006, the company said that 11 banks were backing the project.

Also backing it are 36 banks, schools, publishers, art galleries and museums.

In America some banks such as Goldman Sachs have also been backing very expensive new private sector universities.

Government officials say the agency's troubles will not affect the availability of new student financial aid, although some banks are backing away from the foundation's program.

Yesterday's settlement suggests that the bank has backed away from its earlier insistence that all claimants must provide clear proof of death.

In the end, a regional bank backed the festival, becoming one of a growing number of corporate sponsors of the arts in Germany.

He said "a huge need for financial literacy" is one of the reasons the bank has backed the scheme.

The bank is also backing his much larger bid for Guinness's chain of news agents.

The banks in the syndicate have backed the Yukos loan with export financing.