From: "news@talktalk.net" 
Newsgroups: uk.finance
Subject: Re: Bank Charges
Date: 28 Jan 2005 16:38:21 -0800
   posting-account=AS6KFA0AAAAsYLVYp3J6KNGQtsNquenK

No, not necessarily.

Every day I get a list of my customers in excess and have to decide
what to do.  I can return, pay, transfer funds, increase lending limits
if they are available, or in exceptional circumstances, contact the
customer and ask them what the foxtrot they think they are doing!

Given that it takes me about one hour to do this on a daily basis, and
the cost of my time can be approximated at about =A320 per hour, the
cost of the IT infrastructure probably runs into the hundreds of
millions, factor in the associated costs in risk analysis, not to
mention the stationary & postage costs, the cost of the machinery
necessary to effect the writing, franking and signing of the said
correspondence and I think you will conclude that the charge is valid!

Your average retail bank staff will say "oh the computer did it" - but
this just reveals their ignorance of the back office ops undertaken
centrally.  There ARE humans looking at it - it is just that you will
NEVER get to know who or where they are, nor what factors caused them
to make the decision to pay/return.  There are computer models
providing guidance - ie System says return - but it can be overridden.
MC