[gerdesj]

(UK)

I'm (just) old enough to remember bank managers that managed banks (OK branch managers) and requesting loans where someone would review your history by eye and make a decision on that and a few well chosen questions.

This was also a place that opened at 0900 and closed at 1700 and was not available at 1200-1300 and also couldn't be arsed to help you out arbitrarily. You had to take time off work to visit a bank - yay! Meanwhile they made profits from your credit balance (investments) and your debit balance (interest). Go overdrawn? that'll be a letter (£25 in 1995ish) and punitive interest.

That was the past but: Banks are profit generation centres. My personal wealth has (there's always the mattress) to be lodged in a bank and they insist on making a profit out of me.