A far-reaching package of reforms for the banking sector should be implemented on an "all or nothing" basis, according to the commission which came up with the recommendations.
Sam Woods, secretary of the Independent Commission on Banking, said its findings, which are set to cost the industry up to £7 billion a year, were not a "pick and mix package".
Mr Woods appeared before members of Holyrood's Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee today to answer questions on the proposals, which were published earlier this month.
The shake-up of the sector includes ring-fencing banks' high street divisions to protect them from riskier investment arms, and setting aside more cash to cushion the blow of potential losses or future financial crises.
Mr Woods told MSPs: "Topline is all or nothing. It is not a pick and mix package. We have constructed it deliberately so that the component parts work together.
"The commission's view would certainly be that cherry-picking would be a mistake."
Chancellor George Osborne, who has the power to act on or ignore the recommendations, has pledged to pass the legislation required to implement the reforms before the 2015 general election, with the commission suggesting full implementation by 2019.
However, MSPs questioned whether that timescale was adequate.
SNP MSP Stuart McMillan said: "I would suggest that with the report itself, the lead time is potentially too long for it to be fully implemented, or for the majority of it to be fully implemented.
"I do actually have a large question mark about the effectiveness of the report."