Some weeks ago, I wrote in this column about the bad experience I had when I assisted my sister-in-law at the Żejtun HSBC branch to open a savings account so she could start receiving the widow’s pension.

After my letter appeared, the Żejtun branch manager, Ruth Mangion, and the area clients’ manager asked me to meet them and we had a fruitful discussion about the experience my sister-in-law and I had gone through. Not only did they understand the hardship caused but thanked me for having been instrumental in making the bank and its staff more sensitive to these rare but real experiences.

She now has a savings account but, more importantly, lessons were learnt and I am sure they will serve a good purpose in future eventualities.

I must correct the impression that initially it was the bank manager I encountered: it was a supervisor.

I thank the two officials mentioned for their understanding and the assistance they gave in this case. I trust nobody else will have to encounter similar experiences.