BANKS and businesses must work harder at their relationships, according to Association of Guernsey Banks committee member Mike Starkey (pictured).

Speaking at this month’s Chamber of Commerce lunch, he outlined how the economic difficulties of the past 18 months had affected the two areas.

‘The banks themselves have had to make job cuts here and there and there could be more to come as the banks continue to review and re-adjust to the changing economic scene.

‘Interestingly, there has not been an increase in the number of business customers getting in touch or wanting to talk to their bank.

‘Perhaps there’s apathy that the status quo is being preserved in the island and there’s nothing really to worry about, or perhaps businesses do have concerns that they don’t particularly want to share with their bankers.

‘There may be an issue of trust and I believe that the banks are working to address this.’

He accepted that the difficulties in Guernsey were not as severe as the UK, but the island could not get complacent and that perhaps seminars and workshops about how the banks could help should be staged.