What is it about Covid 19 that so many banks act as if it’s the golden excuse to do nothing?

High Street Banks.  I mean, what’s the point? There are none on the High Street? Croydon used to have two branches of HSBC.  Now there are none.  You have to go over to Wallington.  Banks like HSBC may think that they don’t need branches but why else do they think that people put up with their measly interest rates and avaricious lending rates?  It’s because there’s a branch where you can pay in cash and ask questions.

Not that I’m a fan of cash.  I’m all for dumping it but the end of the cash society hasn’t happened yet.  They’re slightly jumping the gun.  Of course there’s the telephone … but Halifax aren’t taking any calls about anything that’s not an emergency.  Why?  None of these workers have been furloughed?  What else are they going to do all day?  I’ve been going into work all day so what’s their problem?  Why do banks need to close for Covid or have reduced hours?  Most of the staff sat behind reinforced Perspex screens even before the pandemic.

Unless you have huge savings and need them underwritten by the UK Treasury guarantee scheme or you want a mortgage and don’t want to end up stiffed over like those who mortgaged with Northern Rock and were punished with punitive rates by the UK government after bailout … why would you bother ever go near the oxymoron that is a UK “High Street” Bank?

Banks may think they’re clever forcing everyone to go digital and closing all branches but if you’re never going to be dealing in folding paper money and everything’s digital …why bother using pounds sterling at all and having your money pinned to the whims and caprices of the UK Treasury?  You may as well change to any other currency or crypto-currency?  And then what’s the point in the High Street Bank?  And without High Street Banks how does the government lever the economy by interest rate changes or collect tax on interest savings…?

Of course Banks will be getting more enquiries due to Covid-19 but isn’t that like more business for them?  They should be making a fortune repackaging debt but instead…