Royal Bank of Scotland Group's Natwest unit froze the estate of late television presenter Jimmy Savile in anticipation of possible legal claims alleging he sexually abused girls for decades.
"Given the claims raised, distribution of the estate has been put on hold," NatWest said today in an e-mailed statement.
The bank has been the executor for Savile's assets since the former host of popular BBC children's programme, Jim'll Fix It, died last year at the age of 84.
London police are investigating allegations that Savile may have abused more than 300 people as early as 1959, sometimes in collusion with other adults.
The BBC is running internal probes and cooperating with police and lawmakers investigating the alleged incidents.
The scandal was brought to light in a documentary by broadcaster ITV last month that featured several women accusing the host of BBC's Top of the Pops music show of sexual abuse when they were teens. Savile, who was knighted in 1990, granted children's wishes, such as meeting celebrities, on Jim'll Fix It.
Savile retained his popularity in Britain after the shows ended, using his fame to promote charity work that gave him access to children.
A friend of Prince Charles who stayed at Margaret Thatcher's country home when she was prime minister, Savile died a year ago last month, two days before his 85th birthday. The Guardian newspaper's obituary described him as the "eccentric king of children's TV".
The asset freeze was reported earlier by the Financial Times.
Bloomberg