The caring bank

WITH all the flak aimed at banks, it would be fair to record the opposite side of the coin.

The other day my phone rang and a pleasant female voice said: ‘This is your bank.’ Panic stations — am I about to be scammed? But no. The lady went on to say she had in front of her a cheque signed by me, but it had aroused her suspicions.

She listed a number of doubtful points including the fact that the payee details were written with a different pen and in a different hand to the signature, which looked decidedly shaky.

And the sum was high compared with my usual transactions.

I was able to reassure her. At 91 and with severe arthritis, I had asked a kindly neighbour to fill in the cheque, apart from the signature, which I filled in laboriously myself.

This is the sort of service we used to get in the days of the old- style bank manager. What a comfort to know that, even in this age of high-tech banking, these organisations still employ human beings with common sense. JACK HOLLICK, Aldridge, W. Mids.