The UK’s banks appear to hope that the coronavirus crisis is going to help them rehabilitate their public image, so badly damaged by the last financial crisis more than a decade ago. Last month, the Bank of England issued a joint statement with the major banks which said they were there to help businesses and households and keep financial hardship to a minimum.

“At least,” one banker was recently quoted saying, “it feels like we’re on the side of the good this time round.” Another characterised the banks as “the doctors of the economy”.