My 21,000 mile f light to confront bank chiefs
A SCOTS businessman who went on hunger strike outside a high street bank he blames for mis-selling him loans is to make a 21,000-mile round trip to confront its former owners.
Former Clydesdale customer John Guidi, 63, will arrive in Sydney tomorrow to mount a yellow vest-style protest outside the headquarters of National Australia Bank (NAB), which sold off the UK bank in 2016.
Once a successful property entrepreneur, he blames both banks for ruining him in the wake of the financial crisis by selling him £10 million of ‘tailored business loans’ then suddenly withdrawing funding – despite him never missing a payment.
Hundreds of small business owners across the UK have made similar allegations against banks including
‘We will be making our presence felt’
RBS, Lloyds and Clydesdale, which became CYBG, now Virgin Money.
During his five-day visit, Mr Guidi plans to make his voice heard at NAB’s annual general meeting on Wednesday. He has also called for a meeting with Ross McEwan, the exRBS boss who last month joined the bank as its chief executive.
Mr Guidi, from Bothwell, Lanarkshire, said: ‘For too long, banks have been allowed to ride roughshod over everyone’s lives. We will be sending a message and making our presence felt. What they did to me and hundreds of others was wrong and they need to put it right.
‘It’s a David and Goliath battle, but one we are determined to win.’
He added: ‘Given his experience at RBS, Ross McEwan has a unique understanding of a bank that has found itself in trouble over past legacy issues. I’m the victim of a heinous crime that must be put right.
I’m hoping he will agree to meet me to discuss my case.’
In March, Mr Guidi mounted a highprofile hunger strike, which reached the House of Commons and led to calls for banks to face greater accountability for past actions.
It also led to a series of copycat protests outside banks in Belfast, Bristol, Manchester, Newcastle, and Cardiff.
He was persuaded to end his protest at Clydesdale’s Glasgow HQ while the bank’s chief executive David Duffy looked into his case. But in July, Mr Duffy informed Mr Guidi that CYBG could do nothing more for him and his fight was with NAB and the US equity company, Cerberus, which subsequently bought his loans and is attempting to seize his home.
He will be joined this week by other bank ‘warriors’ in his protest, including fellow Scot Ian Lightbody, of the CYBG Remediation Support Group.
Mr Lightbody said: ‘We have recent evidence that, despite statements to the contrary, NAB and CYBG continue to work together in the administration and settlement of issues with these tailored business loans.
‘CYBG and NAB are also tying into settlement deals being done by Cerberus. Wrongs need to be put right and we are not going away.’
NAB was unavailable for comment.