WHO is Yorkshire Bank's most loyal customer?

Well, the claims of Peggy Lambert, from Ilkley, who turns 90 in December, take some beating. She's been with the bank since 1924, and has her "Yorkshire Penny Bank" book from that year to prove it.

She wrote to the Yorkshire Bank in response to a request to track down their most steadfast customer.

Mrs Lambert shared her memories about the Penny Bank, which was organised at her primary school.

The retired teacher remembers depositing a sixpence in her account each Monday morning and how excited she was when she was able to take her blue book to the branch in Knaresborough to withdraw a pound.

As she approaches 90, Mrs Lambert is still living life to the full. She has just returned from a trip – with a rambling society – to Japan. On the day of Yorkshire Bank's 150th dinner at Nostell Priory, she went up in a two-man plane over Ilkley to see if she could spot her friends walking through the Yorkshire Dales.

Change in attitude

ON the subject of Yorkshire Bank's 150th party, Lynne Peacock revealed some old practices which may not go down so well in today's legislation-heavy workplace.

The bank has been gathering stories from former employees for this anniversary year. Ms Peacock, who is chief executive of parent company, National Australia Bank Europe, said: "I was told of one branch where the favourite trick was to get the most junior member of staff to go in the coin hoist. It was a good way of terrifying the youngest member of staff, something these days you would not get away with."

Watching the pennies

LEEDS Building Society attaches great importance to its "superior efficiency", as demonstrated by its favourable cost ratios and avoidance of unfavourable ratings downgrades. An example of this frugal attitude can be found when staff go to London.

A spokesman admitted: "It is often cheaper to book a single from Leeds to Peterborough, and then a single on the same train from Peterborough to London. Sometimes this means changing seats in the same carriage."

A penny saved is a penny earned.

Blue chip company

A team of West Yorkshire bankers has cooked up an unusual way of understanding its chip-shop customers – they've all secured a qualification from the National Federation of Fish Friers.

Fifteen Lloyds TSB Commercial managers have completed the one-day course into managing a fish-and-chip shop. The bankers now have detailed knowledge of everything from set-up costs to portion control and frying times.

The Leeds-based National Federation of Fish Friers was founded in 1913 and represents 8,500 fish-and-chip shop proprietors nationally.

Jeremy Meadowcroft, relationship manager at Lloyds TSB Commercial, said: "In order to offer our customers the best support possible, it's important to understand the business thoroughly."

Expansion in store

THE resurgent Sainsbury's announced last week that it is planning to expand in Yorkshire to take on rivals Asda and Morrisons.

That's great news for three of the main board who live in the region. Mike Coupe, the trading director, lives in York; Gwyn Burr, the customer director, lives in Ilkley; and Roger Burnley, the retail and logistics director, lives in Huddersfield.

Our source asked: "Are they expanding into God's own county to ensure that they can shop in their own stores at the weekend?"

Justin King, the chief executive, lives in the Midlands. No-one's perfect.

Ups and downs

A LOYAL reader in East Yorkshire has taken issue with our description of Hull's House of Fraser as "plush".

Kingstonian wrote: "Although a staunch believer in an area I have lived in all my life, I think you need to look again. There is no down escalator, one small lift, often out
of order, and one lift that has been out of use for two years to my knowledge."

If you have a story for the Business Diary email bernard.ginns@ypn.co.uk