I can't believe that HSBC (Malta) has the effrontery to start charging their personal account depositors for internet banking access. It seems that the "initial" fee is to be €6 per annum for a facility that they have actively been promoting as "free" over the past four years. Having worked in the European banking IT community for the past 30 years I can state categorically that internet banking is (was) a major banking asset (after ATM) in countering rapidly rising banking costs such as staff, mainframe computers and programming, utilities and buildings etc. That's why it was introduced - forget all the service to the community sales blurb. The European banks have still held onto free internet banking for this same reason also coupled with the rage that would ensue if it ever was to become chargeable in this current financial climate.

I myself have just found that my internet banking facility has been removed without notice following my response to HSBC's internet message. My initial reaction was that I would move my account to BOV (who also charge but were upfront about it at the beginning); but then what does HSBC care for the loss of an account, there are still plenty of other depositors to "milk".

So I have decided to keep my current HSBC (Malta) account and revert to the previous method of banking as follows:

• All my bills will now be paid by cheque through the post.

• My statements will have to revert to paper now.

• I'll use the ATM and Quickcash card (until they start charging for the Quickcash card).

My anger is compounded when one realises that all the credit crunch problems around the world emanated from banking community greed in purchasing high risk loans from the US sub-prime market. Yes they all lost a lot of money but guess where HSBC "Malta" is looking to scrape revenue from?

My message to HSBC (Malta) - Get rid of the one who proposed and carried out this income gathering before they irreparably damage your business.