Letter: Morality of banks

Joyce McMillan's assault on the current ethos of banking (Perspective, 14 January) overlooked a crucial aspect. Businesses marketing loans and credit bear a huge moral responsibility.

The potential for debt to cripple individuals, tear apart families, and disadvantage children (while making a tidy profit for businesses) is well known, yet we accept unsolicited encouragement into unnecessary debt as normal business practice, and not just by banks.

This is an area where stringent regulation is needed. For a start, the enticing "Don't you need a new car/kitchen/holiday?" loan letters that my bank continues to bombard me with should be stopped.

RICHARD LUCAS

Broomyknowe

Edinburgh