People who can't get to branches in normal opening hours, for example, and want to plan their finances can do so from the comfort of home. It is a relatively inexpensive way of providing a service but branch closures and job cuts can't be directly attributed to internet banking. But consumer groups have issued warnings that branch closures will leave many rural populations without access to a bank and that online banking could leave the less well-off unable to use their accounts. Some banks are going to take the harsh view and somebody who thinks that they are perfectly comfortable with the bank's service that they are actually getting may find, totally out of the blue, that they are not the profile that their particular bank wants. And since the start of television banking trials, one chief executive has admitted that customers could pay different rates for different banking media.
Banks deny putting profits before customers.
John Varley, chief executive of Barclays' retail services, told the BBC in September that the bank took its responsibility to the community very seriously. That will remain an important feature of business for Barclays. It's not - it's usually last. He said people choosing to go online may be a factor in branch closures but many working people prefer the convenience of banking from home. But it's not a cheap option - internet banking still requires staff and needs to be maintained.