Traditonal Banking

I for one cannot wait for the return to traditional banking. But what was traditional? Over the years banks have developed and discarded many traditions. Is there anyone left in these now disgraced institutions who will remember what the original ones really were?
I opened my first bank account in 1956, at a local branch of Barclays. A reference was required and for the life of me I cannot recall why or how, but I had obtained mine from the then Bishop of Hulme. With this document in hand I was respectfully ushered into the manager’s office to be politely offered a comfortable arm chair and a glass of Tio Pepe. I do remember that it was around eleven o’clock on a weekday morning (banks also opened on Saturday’s) and I made a mental note to return again at a similar hour, as the local village pub would not open it’s door for a further half hour.
The manager, a traditional gentleman if there ever was, chatted informally with me, delicately enquiring of my integrity and my plans for the immediate future. Whatever my grandiose aspirations at the age of twenty were, they obviously impressed him because we both had a second glass sherry and I was personally ushered out with an offer of a small loan, a cheque book and an invitation to return at any time for more.
My army pay book now replaced with my first cheque book, I proudly stepped forward into the awaiting world and headed for the village pub, by which time was then open. When my turn came to order, I set a round up for the rest of the bar and flagrantly flourishing my virgin cheque book and a pen; in a voice loud enough to be heard by all,demanded,
“You do take cheques, don’t you George!”
“Did Ginger. Did.” The landlord replied, exhibiting to myself and others present, a pint glass full of bounced ones. “But not any more.”