Bank we can trust; You Say.

THE UK once had a national network of Trustee Savings Banks. Each with a manager with a decent salary and pension provision.

No bonuses or commission and examining a customer's ability to repay before granting a loan.

Contrast with the likes of Northern Rock.

The money from depositors was paid to the National Debt Office.

In effect, gover nment backed and without shareholders.

Under Mrs Thatcher, the savings bank movement was allowed to become a PLC and was immediately liable to takeover. Lloyds Bank did take over the TSB and it is now part of the disastrous merger with HBOS.

It is reported that more than 200 MPs have signed an early day motion supporting the idea of a state backed bank in the Post Office. This follows a Labour cull of post offices.

Savings banks in countries such as Spain and Portugal continue to exist within a community ethos.

If savings banks still existed in this country, I believe they would be well-supported at this time of financial uncertainty.

Barry Ingham, Roby . NORTH Korea is of war, MPs are expenses, the country is recesssion, and what is Brown doing? Apparently he is Morgan and Simon how Susan Boyle is.

Presumably he is now every sufferer of a or am I being cynical in won't bother as he publicity off any of the Hugh