Stn,--I have followed with interest the recent corre- spondence on
the shortcomings of Britain's personal banking services, and would like in particular to offer
some advice to your correspondent of last week, Mr. Irwin.
I have been employed for a little over two years in the accountancy profession, first in the Midlands and latterly in London. This period, since 1 left school, coincides exactly with my own personal use of a bank (Lloyds). The contrast between profes- sional and personal experience has been sharp. I have met, in the course of numerous small audits and simi- lar tasks, with many examples of inspired and dedi- cated boncheadedness on a scale which can only be compared with the many cynical strictures extant on our often maligned Civil Service, and these have emanated from all the six principal banks.
I have also found Barclays. on occasion, quite unwilling to help with the problem faced • by Mr. Irwin and others. Outs making accurate and punc- tual bookkeeping literally' impossible, For this ser- vice,, and for most'. others. 1 recommend Mr. Irwin and anyone else to Lloyds. Not only the two branches of which I have been a customer tat present I bank at 263, Tottenham Court Road), but also. those all over the country which I have visited when away from home, have provided an (almost) unwaveringly prompt, willing and intelligent service. in the face of constant irresponsibility and lack of funds on my part. They do not, I admit, print on my statement the names either of payees from my account or of payors into it : hut, in the former case they enclose paid cheques in the normal way, and offered at an increased charge to print the names on the statement; while in the latter case they unfailingly send me an immediate notificatidn of the source and amount of each credit received, so that with these and paying-in slips I would have the means (had I sufficient income to warrant it) to keep and classify a complete record of my income. This system seems to fill all normal needs, and Mr. Irwin, with any fellow sufferers, might not be ill-advised to change banks.
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