The boards of UK banks and the role they played in the credit crisis are expected to come under scrutiny in a report due out later on Thursday.

Analysts say the review of corporate governance, by ex-City regulator Sir David Walker, may pave the way for boardroom practices to be overhauled.

The report, commissioned by the Treasury, is tipped to focus on the way risk is managed at banks.

The issue of pay and how it is linked to risk is also likely to be addressed.

Sir David has spoken to banks, institutional investors, and experts in remuneration and corporate governance in preparing the report – due out at 1000BST on Thursday.

Focus

After many, including MPs, questioned the level of banking experience of some directors at firms – Sir David is tipped to set out plans for directors to have higher levels of skill and to receive formal training.

And after Royal Bank of Scotland was led to near collapse by Sir Fred Goodwin, it is expected that Sir David will recommend that bank boards will be forced to show they are able to challenge a chief executive who they feel is endangering a bank.

There may also be a call for non-executive directors at banks not to hold too many posts, for fear that they are unable to give sufficient time and focus to the financial institutions.

The Walker Review, which will go out for consultation, comes as the City watchdog, the Financial Services Authority continues its inquiry into the crisis which ripped through the UK banking system last year.

The measures in the report were foreshadowed by the Treasury’s white paper on financial regulation, published last week, which announced a radical shake-up of the regulatory system for banks.</p

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