Banking: Mr Mainwaring set for comeback

Look at the wonderful nostalgia pervading the government's expected announcement of the break-up of the government controlled banks. You can smell it.

We'll see the return of the dear old Trustees Savings Bank! How wonderful and quaint! I remember we had a little branch in Bude in Landsdown Road back in the sixties. Marvellous.

And even more wonderful and obscure - we'll see the return of the Williams & Glyn's bank! Am I dreaming this?

It's all redolant of those old leather bound blotters, pens on chains, polished wood and managers in three piece suits who wrote you stern letters when you were £1 overdrawn.

Strangely enough, I think this may be a step in the right direction. But how long it will be before this small banks are again gobbled up by big ones; is anyone's guess. Five minutes perhaps?