Customers queue to enter a branch of Northern Rock in Kingston, Surrey, southern England, September 17, 2007. Thousands of customers queued to withdraw savings from embattled bank Northern Rock on Monday and its shares plunged again, heightening pressure for a sale of the business or its assets. REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico (BRITAIN) 

Customers queue to enter a branch of Northern Rock in Kingston, Surrey, southern England, September 17, 2007. Thousands of customers queued to withdraw savings from embattled bank Northern Rock on Monday and its shares plunged again, heightening pressure for a sale of the business or its assets. REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico (BRITAIN) 

The sign of the Northern Rock bank is seen outside a branch in central London September 14, 2007. The Bank of England has offered an emergency loan to Northern Rock after the mortgage lender became the biggest British casualty of the credit squeeze sparked by the crisis in the U.S. subprime mortgage market. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (BRITAIN) 

Customers queue at a branch of Northern Rock in central London September 14, 2007. The Bank of England has offered an emergency loan to Northern Rock after the mortgage lender became the biggest British casualty of the credit squeeze sparked by the crisis in the U.S. subprime mortgage market. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (BRITAIN) 

Customers queue to enter a branch of Northern Rock in Kingston, Surrey, southern England, September 17, 2007. Thousands of customers queued to withdraw savings from embattled bank Northern Rock on Monday and its shares plunged again, heightening pressure for a sale of the business or its assets. REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico (BRITAIN) 

Bank forms are distributed to customers queuing to enter a branch of Northern Rock in Kingston, Surrey, southern England, September 17, 2007. Thousands of customers queued to withdraw savings from embattled bank Northern Rock on Monday and its shares plunged again, heightening pressure for a sale of the business or its assets. REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico (BRITAIN) 

Customers are reflected on a window as they queue to enter a branch of Northern Rock in Kingston, Surrey, southern England, September 17, 2007. Thousands of customers queued to withdraw savings from embattled bank Northern Rock on Monday and its shares plunged again, heightening pressure for a sale of the business or its assets. REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico (BRITAIN) 

Shoppers pass a branch of Northern Rock in Kingston in London September 15, 2007. Fears grew on Saturday that panic among savers at British bank Northern Rock will see a run of withdrawals after estimates that 1 billion pounds ($2 billion) have already been taken out. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor (BRITAIN) 

Customers queue to enter a branch of Northern Rock in Kingston, Surrey, southern England, September 17, 2007. Thousands of customers queued to withdraw savings from embattled bank Northern Rock on Monday and its shares plunged again, heightening pressure for a sale of the business or its assets. REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico (BRITAIN) 

A woman peers out of a window as she queues at a branch of Northern Rock in central London September 14, 2007. The Bank of England has offered an emergency loan to Northern Rock after the mortgage lender became the biggest British casualty of the credit squeeze sparked by the crisis in the U.S. subprime mortgage market. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (BRITAIN) 

Customers queue to enter a branch of Northern Rock in Kingston, Surrey, southern England, September 17, 2007. Thousands of customers queued to withdraw savings from embattled bank Northern Rock on Monday and its shares plunged again, heightening pressure for a sale of the business or its assets. REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico (BRITAIN) 

Customers queue to enter a branch of Northern Rock in Kingston, Surrey, southern England, September 17, 2007. Thousands of customers queued to withdraw savings from embattled bank Northern Rock on Monday and its shares plunged again, heightening pressure for a sale of the business or its assets. REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico (BRITAIN) 

Customers queue to enter a branch of Northern Rock in Kingston, Surrey, southern England, September 17, 2007. Thousands of customers queued to withdraw savings from embattled bank Northern Rock on Monday and its shares plunged again, heightening pressure for a sale of the business or its assets. REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico (BRITAIN) 

The sign of the Northern Rock bank is seen outside a branch in central London September 14, 2007. The Bank of England has offered an emergency loan to Northern Rock after the mortgage lender became the biggest British casualty of the credit squeeze sparked by the crisis in the U.S. subprime mortgage market. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (BRITAIN)