Some may think that the sofas prominently arranged just inside the door of the bank branch I wandered past the other day are placed there so that:
- the bank looks contemporary, accessible and friendly, and hence lures in more customers
- existing customers have somewhere to sit whilst chatting to bank staff about their financial needs
- the companions of bank clients can wait in comfort whilst their friends and family are sold extortionate loans.
We know different, of course. Overdrawn, young lady? Then you’ll be bent over the arm of a settee to be thrashed. That it’s in full view of passers-by? Yes, that’s part of the punishment. And it gives out such a powerful message to other customers about financial prudence, too…