I know how to solve the banking crisis

THE times, they are a-changing!

Especially at the banks. And not for the better, that’s for sure.

My son, trying to exchange 20 £1 coins for a £20 note was told by a nippy teller that to change his change he must first open an account and they would transfer the money into it, which he could withdraw later from an ATM.

This was to make sure he wasn’t money-laundering for terrorists.

Incredible, eh? A bank that likes to say no to money?

No wonder so many High St branches have disappeared when swapping over a small bag of coins is treated like criminal activity.

So here’s an idea. A simple one for any Dragons Den-types who have oodles of spare cash and want to make oodles more. Open a proper bank. One that encourages you to save. A bank that lends. That has tellers who can count. A bank that doesn’t make you feel like a criminal for having some cash. One that has bank managers, not glorified accountants. Friendly souls who are keen to meet and talk with its customers. One which has phones, not pre-recorded messages. A bank that abhors online banking as much as you do, knowing it to be an open door for cyber criminals who only need to be lucky once for chaos to ensue, not the secure gateway to a financial nirvana.

So, as far as banks go, that’s the answer, my friends. And it’s not blowin’ in the wind.