I read a good column on this

I read a good column on this in a financial magazine recently, and the take home lesson is indeed Bill's. Ironically, the Co-op might have been better off it had indulged in all the complex financial jiggery-pokery that is often blamed for the crisis. The big finance side of things has proved less risky, perhaps, certainly more profitable, than the straight high street banking that some have claimed we all need to get back to.Adam is wrong though. Guardian readers and others, including myself, who moved to the Co-op did so because it is indeed more ethical than the alternatives, has better customer service, works harder at community relations, pays its staff, doesn't have to pay huge bonuses to City spivs, etc, etc. People who moved their money to the Co-op weren't wrong to do so. It's people who can't see anything in the world except through their narrow sectarian goggles and think everyone but them is a deluded idiot who are really quackers.