BANK of Ireland may have some work to do in brushing up Bristol & West's (B & W) image. Unfortunately many of the members of the B & W missed out on part of a financial windfall because they received a letter reminding them to top up their accounts too late.

To ensure the maximum windfall. members had to ensure that their balance at midnight on June 25th was not less than the amount held on April 14th, 1996. But the letter arrived in many homes on June 25th itself, meaning that by the time many people returned from work it was too late to make any necessary top-up payment.

B & W pointed out that the rules had been outlined in many previous circulars about the merger.