RBS's chief executive Alison Rose has pulled the plug on the company's online-only bank Bo, promising to apply lessons from the app to the rest of her bank.

The Royal Bank of Scotland chief said that Bo - launched just months ago - will merge with its digital business bank Mettle.

It will bring the digital-only customer bank to an end.

RBS launched Bo in late November last year, in a bid to rival the likes of Monzo, Revolut and Starling - nimble digital challengers that have been nipping at the heels of the high street lenders.

However, Ms Rose insisted that Friday's announcement was not a repudiation of Bo.

"Bo hasn't failed," she said on a call with journalists. "We have made a prudent decision to merge the technology platforms of Bo and Mettle."

"As I have always said ... we will apply a disciplined view in terms of our approach to innovations - testing and learning."

She said that the bank would roll lessons from Bo, especially the savings ideas and tools its team developed, into the core brand.

READ MORE: RBS profits halved as it takes £800m Covid hit

The future of the venture was cast into doubt as early as January when it emerged that Mark Bailie, who had headed the efforts to launch Bo, would step down from RBS.

He reportedly left after missing out on the top job to Ms Rose when Ross McEwan left late last year.

Ms Rose said on Friday that Bo had 11,000 users so far, many of whom were friends and family of bank employees.

"It was launched in the App Store, that we never undertook a consumer launch or introduced any type of acquisition targets," she said.

She added: "I think our decision to refocus reflects the level of opportunity that we think exists in the SME community, as well as the support we think the segment needs, as well as (being) critical to recovery of the UK economy."

British Airways' parent company has signed agreements for €1 billion (£900 million) of loans backed by the Spanish government, but the money cannot be used to help its UK airline which is cutting up to 12,000 jobs.

IAG said the money can be used to help its Spanish carriers Iberia and Vueling mitigate the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

READ MORE: Ian McConnell: Right to look at money going into these people’s pockets

There are "restrictions on the upstream of cash to the rest of the IAG companies", the firm added.

IAG has not requested a loan from the UK Government.

It announced this week that up to 12,000 jobs will be lost at BA, representing more than a quarter of the workforce.

On Thursday it emerged that the airline may not resume operations at Gatwick, the UK's second busiest airport.

In a letter to staff, BA chief executive Alex Cruz wrote: "There is no Government bailout standing by for BA."

Trade union Unite's national officer for aviation Oliver Richardson said: "The fact that Iberia is seeking support from the Spanish government should be welcomed and is a common sense approach to preserving jobs and services, following the immense damage the Covid-19 pandemic is causing to the aviation sector.

"What is concerning is that the parent company IAG is not seeking a similar solution for British Airways.

"Rather than seeking to preserve jobs and workers' terms and conditions, and act for the good of the aviation sector, British Airways is guilty of an act of smash and grab opportunism which is designed to boost their profits in the future and to try to force other operators out of the UK aviation sector."

McDonald's has revealed it will reopen its first UK restaurants for delivery on May 13 after shutting sites due to the coronavirus lockdown.

It said it will reopen 15 restaurants for delivery only, with the locations of these restaurants being announced next week.

READ MORE: Landmark Glasgow building up for sale, with new hotel among development opportunities

The fast-food chain has spent this week testing its operations behind closed doors in preparation to reopen sites.

Paul Pomroy, McDonald's chief executive officer for the UK and Ireland, said: "When we return it will be different as we all adjust to this new normal.

"I want to apologise in advance if our first wave of reopened restaurants does not serve your area.

"Rest assured, we are working hard to reopen more restaurants, but I am adamant this must be at the right pace with the wellbeing of our employees, suppliers and customers front of mind.

"Slowly, but safely, we will return to towns and cities across the UK and Ireland, and thank you for your continued support as we work through this crisis."