SIR,—The condition of bank salaries certainly needs substantial adjustment and
it is very pleasing to know that something is being done to bring this pathetic state of affairs to light.
The state of their pensions also needs atten- tion, for their dependants, in many cases, should the father of a family die; are left in disgraceful poverty. During a banker's life- time, of course, the pension in Scottish banks is two-thirds of the salary, if he retires at the age of sixty; but should he not attain that age, £150 a year is all his widow receives, to be raised in May, 1955, to £200. If the banker dies 'in harness' a year's salary is given to the widow. As things are at present, this can be ridiculously small.
Should the banker be ill for any length of time, and die, the year's salary is not paid. Officials,of the banks in Scotland are treated similarly after a lifetime's service, and their dependants are in an even more precarious state as, naturally, they have more adjustments to make. Very little time is given for any, adjustment, and the pension is cut immedi- ately after death.
Surely men who have given first-class service for forty years and over to a bank deserve better treatment. There are many widows of men who have been in the first rank of banking who are in very poor circumstances today, and this certainly proves a blot on the profession and shows hearties% disregard for those who are left. As the pension schemes are contribu- tory, surely there is no need for this shocking state of affairs. The contributions, of course, are not big. but any 'bank employee would gladly contribute more, given a decent salary, to know that his family would be insured against poverty in these very difficult times.— Yours faithfully,
SUFFERER *
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