RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33728, 28 December 1974, Page 18

RANDOM REMINDER

CHEESE . . .

Today being Saturday, it is yet another bank holiday. They seem to have plenty of holidays. But it is little wonder. They earn them. There are few things, unhappily, that the average person shows more concern about than his money, and his prospects of getting more. Yet the banks keep advertising about their smiling sort of service. And the incredible thing is that it is nearly always true. We do not, alas, have the company and continence or a whole horde of charming young women; but we know one or two, still. And one of them was able to offer evidence the other day of just how civil the bankers really are. Remember, of course, that she is a particularly charming girl. But for all that . .

She decided’ to open a bank account, in her gorgeous, woolly way. She went to a bank, and was escorted politely to the manager’s office. He was all smiles and courtesy, putting her into a chair and then settling himself behind the desk with the air of a man who has a whole day to spare. He asked her address. She gave it to him, and he wrote it down with the kindly and judicial air of one making an entry in the Good Book. She then said that wasn’t her proper address, just a contact one. He crossed it all out. Courteously. He asked if she wanted her account to be on a monthly basis, and she agreed to that. But then she had a look at the form he had pressed gently into her hand and

found it could be halfyearly. She changed her mind; he crossed out again. With just a hint of decision, this time. Then the man behind the desk asked how much she would like to deposit. Having given this grave question some thought, she said “Nothing at the moment.” He tore all the, paper up this time, but not as one in a tantrum. His teeth were set, but still showing. He produced a form for a specimen signature — “the best we can do at the moment” and seemed gratified that she was able to sign her name. He ushered her out, with the air of one escorting a Rothschild to a limousine, and he was still smiling. Just. Bank managers are marvellous.