25 APRIL 1958, Page 17

NO BANK MERGER ' SIR,—In the notes by Custos in last

week's Spectator it is stated : 'now that this bank [Commercial Bank of Scotland] hag merged'WIth the National Bank of Scotland . . .' This is not a fact. Discussions about a possible merger between these banks, news of which was given last autumn, are still continuing; no conclu- sion has yet been reached, The subsequent observa- tion, that Lloyds Bank has an interest in hire-purchase finance companies, is accordingly also groundless.— Yours faithfully,

J. A. HUNSWORTH Secretary, Banking Information Service 3 Lombard Street, EC3

[Custos regrets equally if his information has been incorrect or merely premature.—Editor, Spectator.]