Over the past couple of months Hedge Clippings has been overwhelmed by revelations of gross misconduct evident at a number of levels of banks and AMP in the areas of financial planning and advice. The Hayne Royal Commission became a cross between reality TV, a soap opera, and a big end of town version of Judge Judy.
This week's episode, focusing on banks lending to small businesses, and their subsequent treatment of the borrower and their unfortunate guarantors when the proverbial hits the fan, has been dull by comparison. It has been no less shocking, but dull, probably because there haven't been too many surprises. Banks only lend when the borrower can provide adequate security, and when it's time to pay the piper, it's the lender that calls the tune.
There's an inherent conflict here. Small business borrowers constantly complain that it's hard to get a business loan, even with the security of a home as collateral, often owned by some unfortunate relative. Banks argue that they aren't there for the benefit of the borrower, and have been driving hard bargains when things turn turtle since Shylock was a boy. Hence the term "getting their pound of flesh."
The issue is to what lengths should a bank go to in getting a guarantee, and how, or from whom in the first place. Once again it is in the area of what is "acceptable conduct" from a supposedly reputable business that the banks appear to have failed the test. No one disputes the banks' basic business obligation to take appropriate measures to protect the money they lend, but it comes down to what is considered appropriate.
Once again the pressure to perform, particularly to meet sales and lending targets, leads to unfortunate outcomes where the bank is rarely the loser at the end of the day. Until the government of the day announces a Royal Commission…
