Talking business for Monday November 17

Welcome to my first column for The Bolton News.

Working at a local bank, I speak to a large number of businesses across a range of sectors daily, both customers and non-customers. Whenever I do, I’m always keen to get their opinion on banks and their attitude to our industry.

It’s been a tumultuous time for the sector over the last six years or so, and you only have to follow the news sporadically to know that banks have a lot do to change their culture and, in turn, the perception of them.

However, I have found that many customers have no strong opinion on their current bank.

They are generally satisfied and while they would not necessarily go out of their way to recommend their bank, they feel they have no cause for complaint.

I am working hard to change that attitude because I believe that businesses have every right to expect a lot more from banks and bank managers.

We are in a key position to help, not just with finance, but with providing referrals and introductions between businesses and other enterprise organisations.

Our aim is to help businesses invest, grow and thrive whatever the economic climate.

Here is a challenge. If you own a business, please have a think about what your bank offers but also the other things that it could help you with. Get in touch with them. Expect and demand more.

Hopefully, that’s exactly what you’ll get.

I am sure banks will become really valued once again and that can only be good for everyone.

Although we live in an increasingly technological age in which much routine banking is done on line, building personal relationships with banking professionals for businesses is still very important.

Many of those professionals attend local networking events and are keen to support local good causes and third sector businesses doing good work in the community.

We tend to find that representatives of the most successful enterprises attend these events and see the speculative investment of time and energy there beneficial in the long run, but also enjoyable.

Regardless of the hi-tech dimension of our world, the human interface continues to be what it has always been and always should be - the most important.

Gavin Elmes, is a Relationship Manager at RBS Commercial Banking, Bolton

gavin.elmes@rbs.co.uk