I join the other correspondents in objecting to HSBC's imposition of €6 for internet banking.

It is purely an attempt to strengthen the bank's balance sheet at the expense of its personal account holders, disguised as an increase in operating costs. It comes at a time when any bank's reputation is questionable, and as a public relations exercise it is disastrous especially when the level of mistakes committed are higher than ever.

No doubt this will be shown when the current average time of 30-40 minutes taken in Gżira or Sliema High Street branches, for example, for non-internet business, increases, and the bank will realise that internet banking is a two-way street for its benefit and that of its customers.

It has been shown, in the UK especially, that banks have been applying arbitrary charges, illegally, to personal accounts, resulting in refunds amounting to millions, and soon maybe more on the outcome of the test case currently before the courts.

This would appear to be another equally unpopular measure further alienating the banks from their client base.