Hi
NHS workers, care home workers, supermarket staff and the emergency services all deserve our thanks and huge respect for keeping working to save lives and ensure that essential supplies such as food continue to be available.
But what about businesses who need cash to survive? Why are most bank branches closed just when businesses - and particularly small businesses that don't have a dedicated relationship manager at the end of a 'phone- need someone to help them apply for a loan, either on 'normal' terms or under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.
Bank staff who can process loan applications are as 'essential' as other workers who are keeping services running.
Banking sources say that with most bank branch networks closed and absenteeism at unprecedented levels, the industry has been working relentlessly to get the emergency loan scheme off the ground. I am not sure what that means but given that bank loan officers can presumably work remotely and conduct interviews using video conferencing it seems to me that there shouldn't be any greater loss of staff
in banks than other services are experiencing.
After the financial crisis in 2008 the Government bailed out the banks with massive injections of cash into the economy (remember quantitative easing) all of which was channeled through the banks that were then able to pay their staff (and directors' bonuses!). Isn't now the time they should be repaying that generosity?
Noel Guilford