Channel 4 started a new series last night called The Bank of Dave. It portrays the attempts of a Burnley businessman to start a new local bank. He is both hugely enthusiastic and completely naive, a superb combination for a TV programme.
A large part of the first part of the series is dominated by his efforts to get a banking licence. Along the way it is revealed that in the last 100 years only one new banking licence has been granted in the UK. If there is one fact that explains why customers are disappointed with banks it is this. The lack of real competition in UK banking is appalling.