The Guardian - The bank that likes to say ... push off

It calls itself the world's local bank, a slogan which conjures up images of kindly cashiers ushering rich and poor alike through the door to deposit their savings. At the HSBC branch in Canford Cliffs, Dorset, however, customers are judged by quite different criteria.

The bank has offended residents of the elegant seaside village in Poole by banning all but the most well-off from using the branch.

Only customers with £50,000 or more in savings, a hefty mortgage or a salary of at least £75,000 are being allowed to talk to staff. Everyone else has to make do with the cash withdrawal and automated paying-in machines

If they want to be served personally or make an inquiry, they will have to go to another branch.

An HSBC spokesman's attempt to justify the decision only served only to intensify the consternation. "We are trying to treat everyone fairly - not everybody in the world is equal. Some people have higher incomes and need greater services through the bank. These customers demand a better service," he said.

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