Soundings

I am certainly not confused, I was connected to the industry in a senior capacity for many years. Profitability can be measured in many ways but the branches, especially small town one's were losers (on a fully absorbed cost basis) and as premisses costs escalated along with staff costs the problem became worse. Also corporate customers (the bigger one's) were demanding far more sophistication. This was seen as being only achievable by centralising corporate business in its entirety; it gave the sector a focus that was seen as necessary. There was also the issue that a large number of "corporates" were operating in several locations and they wanted the entire relationship centralised. You mention that the banks make a huge amount of interest out of domestic funds. Could you provide the numbers? How can a bank make huge amounts on an account that carries an average balance of less than, say, £5k, and in money that may be here today and gone tomorrow. Looked at globally I can understand that the amount earned looks huge, but divide that by the number of accounts and it is not much at all. You mention that you make no interest. Do you pay banking fees? I certainly do not - I move money about, set up and close standing orders and have a small working overdraft facility. It costs me nothing in terms of paying direct fees. That is good as far as I am concerned. I also carry a very small day to day balance so the bank makes little on my account. I am certainly not defending everything the bank's have done for some of it could have been done better and some of it has gone too far (call centres!). But in reality it is to be expected for as people demand higher salaries, better working conditions costs start to rise. The counter to that will always be rationalisation of the business. For as Marshman rightly points out, the banks are not a charity and they have to look to their shareholders. Advancing technology has also played its part. It is not just small town branches that have rationalised. Many central city branches and departments have also closed and for the same reason - the numbers do not stack up or could be improved.

Thank you Marshman. It is always hard to convince those who have made up their minds. But you are so right - branches have been loss leaders for years. The bank's treasury function does not make a lot out of personal accounts, they just do not carry enough long term cash. It is even harder now given the low interest rates that prevail. The profit is understandably on the corporate side but despite that the bank's provide a no fee service to us on the street. I am on a fixed pension Hylander. The banks do not make billions on the back of domestic clients. They make it on the back of their corporate treasury function and their corporate services (or that is where they make the bulk of it). They also have to retain enormous cash reserves to stop them going under when that dreaded event occurs. And the level of those reserves has been increased on the back of the last horror story. Your money (up to a certain limit) deposited with the bank is also underwritten by the UK Govt. Not bad for a no fee service is it.

You are indeed a cynic Capt I am sure the banks would let you have branches if you were prepared to pay for them (everyone wants free banking). I for one am happy to rely on technology which I do not and have not found overly flakey (have used internet banking for years). As far as mobile signals are concerned I agree Norfolk is not good but I still manage with Vodafone fairly well - that though is a network provider issue and I agree it needs sorting. But the internet is good in this area (I live in Potter) and is in course of being upgraded to fibre. In fact the work at the Potter exchange is now complete so it will not be too long in being offered. Your assessment of the banks is made on the back of the recent crisis. There is a word of difference between investment banking and domestic (High Street) banking but it is highly likely that domestic banking is not as profitable as one might think (or as shareholders want). That is why there are so few banks outside the biggies and those that do exist (Tesco for instance) are basically internet based. We can like it or hate it (or treat it with indifference). But the certainty is that it will not change. There will be no reversal and no white night will come along and start a business that gives rise to a local branch based banking network. Associated property costs alone would be staggering. You make mention of screwed up payments. But how many instances of that have there really been as a percentage of the whole? I do not know the answer, but I bet it is very low. This is life an there will always be mistakes and breakdowns - there were plenty when we had the old branches and I can remember mates of mine working until past midnight to balance the tills. I can also remember debits (and credits) going through my account erroneously. I am happy on this one to go with progress. In any event there is no option so we are all going to have to get used to the idea. The fact that many businesses now work through overseas call centres makes a reversal even more difficult - but that is another "can of worms" that is best left alone

I get Vodafone on my iPhone in Stalham, Capt. My wife cannot get a signal on Tesco Mobile, even in Tesco You have a fair point re people not understanding tech. But where do you draw the line? I had a pc on my desk at work over 20 years ago. At the end of the day we all have to take some responsibility for keeping up with the game. Progress will wait for no man and whilst I sympathise and will help those who are at least trying to help themselves I am not so charitable with those who have no intention of embracing change. This is not going to stop...so get used to it. That is the only available advice as far as I can see.

There will always be exceptions, those who do not move with the times. As for paying in cash, as I said earlier you can credit your account via a local post office. There are still plenty about (but not as many as once) - Stalham has one, Potter Heigham has one, Catfield has one, Ludham has one to name a few locally. In respect of the comment - banks have our money but do not want us to have access. How can you justify that comment when there are shed-loads of cash machines scattered around the country? Are we a necessary evil to the banks. Well yes I suppose we are just as any customer is a necessary evil to any retail outlet. Just like newsagents, greengrocers, Tesco, banks need to make a profit. I am sure all businesses would like to find a way to make money without the hassle of dealing with customers! Thus the business/customer relationship is in general one of "a necessary evil", I agree. Alan, you cannot be serious when you say you don't want service tills - you would rather stand in a line at a bank counter would you? I can remember trying to get cash out in London of a lunch time pre cash machines. Standing in a queue in the branch for the best part of my lunch hour and especially so on pay days. No thanks! "At the Bank hopefully you have not got general shoppers all listening to your conversation either". If you believe that you will believe anything Hylander. You get all sorts of life in the branches in Stalham. They are the same people who go to the PO to buy lottery tickets. ​Anyway "nuff" said.

I find it hard to swallow as well. But banks really are 20th century - who really needs them. 1) You can bank online. I have been doing it for years without any real issues. Some may not like it but I am afraid we will have to get used to it. Computers have been moving our money around for years - the customers have just not had a direct interface. 2) There is a plentiful supply of cash machines so getting money out and/or checking balances is easy. 3) Cash is not required that much anymore - cash cards, credit cards, Apple Pay and the like are taking over. I do not even need cash in my local! 4) Paying in can be done at a post office (and so can withdrawals) 5) Loans can be arranged on line - it is all done via credit scoring these days anyway. Failing that there is telephone banking and the old way of completing a form and sending it off. So yes it is the demise of something we have become accustomed to; that we love. But we are where we are and this trend will continue until there are but a few regional offices scattered around the country. That's my take anyway. I am sadden by all this as it is another way of life that is being consigned to the ether. That, I rather suppose, is progress. Speedtriple - how else can a bank make money but on the back of its customers. It is a business and, as you say, it is owned by its shareholders. We as customers are a necessary evil I guess but we have the option to go elsewhere - assuming there is anywhere structurally different to go of course

It was always nicer somehow when it was thatched, but I must say I have never, ever had an issue with the food. It has always been good and value for money. Those who run it have changed over the years though and I am not so sure all have been for the better.....but then it is hard to make a tied pub work. Hopefully the future will be brighter!

I had heard similar, Keith. Fingers crossed!

Now that's a real haircut, NorfolkNog. From an ex late 60s/early 70s guitar toting hairy

I agree Speedtriple, but it is a bit small for a Weatherspoons I feel/hope. I am not so sure the location is that great for them either - it is not riverside and it does not have a huge catchment area re local trade. The pub has loads of ground though! It will be interesting to see what happens, as I understand it the building needs a lot spent on it to bring it up to scratch, especially upstairs. The grounds and carpark are also a bit of a mess. It has been badly neglected over the years.

Went past the Falgate today and the For Sale board did not say Under Offer so your news is good news indeed NorfolkNog. As you say, let us hope it stays a pub. I am not aware of any attempts to obtain a change of use but we can only wait and see. Annette is currently on a one month rolling tenancy I understand. That suggests her days are numbered unless the new owners have a role for her. In this respect I have my own views but cannot and should not share them here.

Is the return that great? I wonder! The on-costs must be astronomical

Can't we cut overseas aid!

I have a steel narrowboat and the hull is routinely painted (every two to three years) with black bitumen below and on the waterline. The trend these days is to paint the hull with two pac as it is hard and is said to last for several years. I do not use any traditional anti-foul. Topsides any good paint system will work. I have used many of the boat faves like International Top Lac but now use good old Weathershied and its related undercoat. Bare steel does need to be primed with an appropriate primer.

Is it not made more difficult at Reedham due to the tides? The water really does push down there and if going with the flow you have to keep up with it or lose steerage.

Hi Alan, Depends where you are, but at least there are plenty of miles on the canals. Currently we are on the Great Ouse (not the canals I know) and it is brilliant - was working on the boat last weekend and saw four boats moving, Well three really as one of them was the same one coming back! Going back to topic, there may have been loads of boats in your area but you respected that and slowed down accordingly. More should do that on the Broads. My comment was tongue in cheek - I agree the boats should at all times slow down, taking local conditions into account. C&RT are starting to get to grips with tow path moorings as it is bad in some places (and not so in many more). There will always be honeypots and I guess the trend is for holiday boats to head for those. It will take time but they are enforcing the 1/2/7 day etc mooring and continuous cruising rules far more rigorously. It is upsetting some but not the majority

Agreed, Alan. But then they would never get moving given the numbers on the northern rivers

We live in Potter and often go the other way but have found the A11/A14 the better option to/from the M6, specially so now A11 is duelled.

Absolutely and it is not anode related either. It is to do with earth leakage and underwater metal parts acting as battery plates.There is shedloads of info about this on other forums. If you do use shore power extensively you had best install a galvanic isolator. Well maintained boats have suffered from galvanic corrosion. GRP of course does not corrode but the stern gear can.

I agree 100% but the fact remains that the Broads is moving more and more towards Disneyfication and further away from what I call real boating. That is fine. My answer was to move my boating elsewhere...but I do love the Broads and have left with the feeling that those with a love of real boating are losing space to the floating flat brigade (who I do believe are the minority of registered toll payers).

No Paul, the boating brigade like boating, the self sufficiency that comes with it and the sense of adventure. Have you ever seen a 240 volt plug-in at a real wild mooring or in a quiet anchorage on the coast. Of course not. And that is the difference, broads boating is now about having a floating 5 star flat in a disneyfied environment. God forbid that you might not be able to use your microwave or electric heater when it is a little chilly.

Why is it simpler?

Nothing wrong in going back, Iain, not if the moving forward has proven not too work as well as what went before. I know you said it tongue in cheek, but modern day televisions do not drain batteries badly. What you have here is a Catch 22 situation - boats are meant for cruising and batteries can only be returned to a healthy state of charge if one cruises for a fair few hours a day - at least four I reckon. Of course not everyone manages that as many are far too keen to ensure they get a prime mooring complete with leccie. To achieve this they have to moor up early

So how many electric points exactly do we need to reach this panacea? And is there enough mooring space to accommodate them all? It is impossible of course but maybe that illustrates that boats are "over-berthed" and/or have hot water tanks that are far too small. There are alternatives to using just the engine to heat water and that does not have to include shore power.

There are many boats around that supplement battery charging with solar and on board alternator controllers that make engine charging more efficient. That to me is preferable to turning a waterway into one huge ring main to facilitate boats that are over equipped with power hungry electronic gadgets. I would rather the BA spent the money on stuff we really need - like more moorings.