18 AUGUST 1990, Page 23

. . . and a bullseye

SOME banks still know how to write letters. This has just come through the post: 'We are a strong and well-managed bank. We have minimal exposure to com- panies which are in trouble, and we have not lent a cent to the Third World.' It comes from the First Virginia Bank of Augusta. Our banks don't seem to say that — I wonder why not?