Banks and bankers have, for good reason, received a lot of bad press in the past year or so. But it was not ever thus.
Many years ago, I lived in quite a rural part of England
Sitting in the local pub one evening with a group of friends, we were discussing the imminent retirement of one of the local farmers, and who would take over his land. Many ideas were put forward, some being quite strange (that's the effect of English beer!), until the local bank manager gave his views.
These were not about who would take over, or how much the farm would sell for, but a few succinct words, which covered a wide span of intimate knowledge.
He said:
“I have walked that land and found it in good heart”.
No more, no less. However, behind those words was a lifetime of understanding, knowledge slowly gained and precise.
Who in the finance industry now would have the skills and abilities to summarise in such an adroit way? How can you give a reasoned conclusion to a loan application when you have no framework of precise knowledge and understanding on which to base your views, only a set of numbers?
Until next time (and in good heart),
Peripatetic Scribe
What you say makes a lot of sense, P.S. Here in NZ (where we have more sheep than people) it is almost 100% necessary for any banker to known in similar detail as you describe. OK the guys in Head Office can sit down with their figures, but the man on the ground still counts for a lot - he can approve or not, and the decision is based not just on numbers.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment Anonymous (NZ) - this delights me. It's good to know that earned knowledge is a)still available and b) has a large part to play in decisions of this type. As a postscript I will say that I have come across a wonderful example of a farmer creating an unusual success story and will post it soon so "stay tuned" P.S.
ReplyDeleteA very nice story and a very good point. Nevertheless, it must have taken place really a long time ago, in a totally different world. It really depicts the current alienation in an excellent way.
ReplyDeleteLucana
Thanks, Lucana. Yes it was a LONG time ago (some 35 years) and I guess the world was a different place and the pace of life was quite different and attitudes more in tune with mine than they are now. It's good to hear from New Zealand that they are preserving some of the "good".
ReplyDelete