Internet fizzle generates bank branch sizzle - 2004-02-29
Luke Brennan settles some of his bills by Internet and goes online daily to check his account balance.

But when it comes to dishing out cash, raking it in or getting a home loan, the 32-year-old Chesterton plumber wants to face off with a real, live person.

He recently stopped in to kibitz with tellers at the American Trust & Savings Bank branch in Porter. Then he went into an office to talk with branch manager Philip Grenchik Jr. about a home mortgage.
Read the full story at NWITimes.com

HSBC smashes profit record - 2004-02-29
HSBC, led by Sir John Bond, will tomorrow declare the biggest profits posted by a British bank in a move that will generate protests from consumer groups and politicians, but delight City investors.

Consumer organisations complain that banks are profiteering off the back of record personal lending which stands at over £160bn or £1 trillion if you factor in mortgage loans and credit card debt.
Read the full story at Observer