The real bank robbers
Bankers have become among the most hated section of the population, but mainly because of the huge rewards they continue to give themselves despite the massive financial crisis they caused. Mike Haynes looks at why we should loathe their other thieving activities - those on the high street.
Twice last summer robbers made off with the cash boxes containing a few tens of thousands each from local banks. But who were the bigger thieves - the robbers or the branches of the banks whose cash was stolen? I have no romantic illusions about people who rob banks. But thinking about how the banks themselves have robbed us at a branch level is an interesting exercise.
When dodgy dealing and debt shook the global financial system in 2008 most attention was focused on what is called investment banking. Investment banks have two jobs.