That's fair then!

I know, it is pretty easy to moan about the banks. We all like to do it. I think that the banks even like it a little because it means that although we bitch and whine, we are never really going to do anything about it.

But it is a little much that as they are unwinding their investements in highly dubious forms of rubbish derivatives, and as they are announcing to the world that they are going to write down billions of pounds in assets leading to gigantic losses, they then turn round to us, the little guys and make us suffer for their folly.

Pretty much every day we hear from business owners that have found their bank to be a little less cooperative. Reducing an overdraft limit, requiring a bit more security, a charge over a property. Good, fiscal responsibility on the part of the bank. Keeping their ledgers tidy. Making sure they are being prudent.

So where the hell were these "prudent" bankers when some bright spark said..."I know..let's take £10 billion and bung it on some dodgy derivatives for a laugh!"

It certainly wasn't the business relationship manager in Trowbridge who would like you to reduce your overdraft by £2,000 or put up your house as security. It certainly wasn't the corporate manager from Rotherham who turns down your loan request for no apparant reason. "It's the lending committee" he whines. "I've got no say over this nowadays".

Pretty diligent lending committee. Pity they couldn't have had a bit of a think before they poured their cash (well, actually our cash as we end up paying for it) down the proverbial u-bend.

Yes, it is easy to have a go at the banks. But Man, they don't half make themselves a great target!