Isn't it amazing how banks keep telling us how every diminution of service is down to their concentrating their efforts on the customer. In the last few weeks, we have seen one of the banks decide that it will no longer cash cheques regardless of the status of the customer unless the cheque is drawn on the same bank. Its main rival is working tirelessly to reduce the number of counter services its offers. A third is looking to rationalise (i.e. relocate and/or shed staff and costs) and all are abandoning the eurocheque scheme which was a simple and secure way of accessing one's funds overseas, albeit at a small cost.

Anyone see the similarities. You've got it . . . costs. The banks are tripping over themselves to cut costs while letting us know they're doing it in our interests.

Wouldn't it be so much easier if the banks argued that, like any other public business, they must act in the interests of shareholders, whose bottom line is profit?

In the meantime the banks would do well to remember that while electronic commerce may have a wonderful future, it will be some time before it finds a ready audience. Until then, it ill behoves our financial institutions to treat their customers as so many costly irritants.

Dominic Coyle can be contacted at dcoyle@irish-times.ie