Sadly the panic caused by investors moving money or removing it from northern rock was the biggest cause of the companies problems.Sacemongering in the press in the uk led to the massive queues and the loss of confidence in the banks.
Im sure that if more people had left their money in place the bnank would be in a far more secure position today , as would the uk taxpayers.
The same week that northern rock asked to borrow money 3 spanish banks did the exact same , there was no great outcry in the press and the banks are as solid as they were before.
The problem is loss of confidence can lead to a crash in markets and banks like that in the 1930s in america.
Hopefully b&b are ok , but i think many banks are in the red , but will pull thru .