Maybe bankers really are wankers?

This was written in 2012 – nothing has really changed... 

Not only do businesses have to fight the banks to get loans but savers are being penalised for withdrawing funds from their savings.

Banks that have been bailed out by the British taxpayer haven't really learnt a lesson. They expect customer loyalty from us – but what do small businesses and savers get back in return? Are the meagre savings of the elderly and the careful being used to bolster up the banking system and its bankers’ bonus culture? I would like to send British banks a message:

You do not own our savings — we loan them to you to make us a profit. Our savings are not yours to support your bonus culture; they belong to us and therefore we should be able to reclaim our funds (with interest) instantly without being penalised… and you should say to us, “Thank you for still having faith in us.”

Maybe bankers really are wankers — 2026 update

When this was first written back in 2012, frustration with the banking sector was everywhere. The financial crash was still fresh, taxpayers had bailed out institutions that insisted they were “too big to fail”, and ordinary customers were left dealing with withdrawal penalties, restrictive savings accounts, and a culture that rewarded the very behaviour that caused the crisis.

More than a decade later, the packaging has changed — but many of the underlying problems haven’t.

Banks have modernised the language, not the attitude

Today’s banking world is full of polished apps, AI‑driven “insights”, and endless talk of digital transformation. But beneath the marketing, the same issues persist:

• Savers still face restrictions when accessing their own money.
• Small businesses still struggle to secure affordable, straightforward lending.
• Executive bonuses continue, just discussed less openly.

The basic principle remains unchanged: customers lend their money to banks, not the other way around. Yet banks often behave as though deposits are theirs to control.

2026: A familiar landscape with new labels

Interest rates have swung sharply in recent years, fintech challengers have risen and fallen, and traditional banks have rebranded themselves multiple times. Despite all this movement, the customer experience remains stubbornly similar.

Banks still rely heavily on deposits to fuel profitable lending, and they still dislike anything that encourages people to move their money freely. Notice accounts, withdrawal penalties, and loyalty traps have simply evolved into new forms — often hidden behind “product tiers” or “smart savings tools”.

Has anything really changed?

Ask many savers, pensioners, or small business owners, and the answer is still a weary shrug. The system feels familiar because it is familiar. The incentives that shaped banking culture in 2012 are largely still in place in 2026.

For anyone starting or running a business today

The advice remains practical and timeless: stay flexible, keep overheads low, and don’t assume your bank will prioritise your needs.

Here is a new game to play: Find a bank on the High Street…

Banks provide services, not loyalty. The more independent your financial setup, the less exposed you are to sudden policy changes, shifting interest rates, or restrictive account conditions.