A saner past....

In the days when this house/bank was built, bank managers were expected to live above the shop. It was a symbol that the bank was personally present in the community, and the man (that's how it was in pre-enlightened days) who took the decisions about your account, your loan, or your mortgage was someone known to you, and living side by side with you.

A Definition of "Relationship Banking" from Barron's Banking Dictionary..

Concept in financial services marketing whereby an account officer or Customer Service Representative tries to meet all of a consumer's needs, or to the extent permitted by regulation. Relationship banking is an attempt to advance the sales culture in bank marketing beyond order taking to a more pro-active form of direct selling. Instead of selling financial services one at a time, an account officer attempts to gain an understanding of the consumer's needs and offer services that fulfill those needs.


Sounds to me as if that is pretty close to what they had. Bring back Captain Mainwaring?