Consumers still angry with the banks

Bank customers are yet to forgive the institutions for the recession and bank account charges, as a new survey ranks them as one of the worst customer service providers.

The research from MoneySupermarket.com shows banks only just ahead of estate agents and energy companies in the poll. Consumers put hairdressers and hotels at the top.

The comparison site's head of banking, Kevin Mountford, believes that it is a "shame" that banks have fared so badly in a customer service poll, when most bank complaints have come as a result of the financial climate, rather than how customers have been treated by staff.

This said, Mr Mountford does concede that as banking has become more automated, consumers can feel less connected to the bank. However, he also warns that bringing back a more customer-friendly service would cost more.

Kevin Still, director of Atlantic Financial Management says: "It comes as no surprise that banks and energy providers are viewed so poorly by customers who have to suffer poor service and over-charging for their services, especially those in financial difficulty.

"These companies are the first to cry wolf when things get tough and have very bizarre ways of interpreting 'treating customers fairly'" he says.

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