The bank branch - weakest link or saving grace?

This blog recently expressed the view that, in these days of financial turmoil,  banks should reposition their branch networks as a means to reinject the personal service ethos to high street banking and see off the threat from online start-ups and outsiders like supermarkets. (The bank manager versus the Web 2.0 widget)

It seems I'm not alone. Sean Park's Sixth Paradigm blog refers to a recent editorial piece in the FT bemoaning the poor standards of customer service in high street bank branches.

Sean is currently setting up an investment venture called Nauiokas Park to invest in start-ups with the potential to bring innovative, disruptive approaches to bear on traditional business lines.

Sean comes from the capital markets side of the business and has never worked in retail financial services before. Nonetheless he scents an opportunity: "It might sound crazy given what has happened in the last 12 months or so, but I’m pretty sure there has never been a better time to start a new bank in the UK. Not top of the agenda for me at the moment, but something I’d love to get involved in before I hang up my spurs. I’m putting it on the list."