Banks — the good and the damn right despicable

A collection of climate stories mostly

Courtesy of Newcastle Libraries

When I arrived at Newcastle University in 1979, the most popular place for a fresher’s grant cheque, aside from behind the bar, was Barclays Bank. Politically unaware first years, followed their parent’s advice and opened an account with the closest branch to campus, one less thing to think about, me included.

The Barras Bridge Barclays is long gone. It’s now The Grand Cafe, an annex of the reinstated, Grand Hotel I presume? Students supping flat whites and cappuccinos who’ve never used or needed a cheque book, probably opened their neobank accounts, the term used for digital only banks like Monzo, Starling and Revolut from the comfort of their bedroom, months if not years before their UCAS forms were boldly populated.

Barclay’s behaviour has sadly remained reassuringly consistent. They might have distanced themselves from South Africa because of apartheid protests in the 1980s, but now they’re under increased scrutiny from War on Want, Campaign against Arms Trade and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, who have uncovered the bank’s investments worth over £1 billion, in companies supplying weapons and military tech to Israel. Another apartheid situation with strong returns for the lender.