Not sure if this thread will catch on, because no-one here seems to have much to say about individual british banks, but thought i would add this header to see if we could discuss dividend yields, exposure to sup-prime, good ones, bad ones, take-over targets, when the crisis will end? do you think they have learnt their lesson? I, for one, as a property developer have seen first hand how much stricter they have become with lending habits, struggling to get decent rates for re-mortgaging, basically they appear scared to lend to anyone.

Beautifully put!, why couldn't the 'experts' have seen what was happening?; perhaps they should have used your methodology Spitfire!

Spitfire for Chancellor of the Exchequer I say. Or PM. Or both. Drink anyone? :o)