Forced to bank online

SIR – Aside from the risk of isolating those with poor broadband or who are not comfortable with using the internet, the suggestion that banks should extend their online services to compensate for the closure of local branches (Business, August 20) simply forces customers to do the work that they might normally expect from service providers. This trend is not limited to banks; it applies to virtually all online service providers.

If the cost savings to providers were passed on to the customer then this might be acceptable, but many people would prefer effective and easily accessible customer services that help them directly, without having to spend their valuable time doing what the provider should be doing.

Michael Dallas London SW13