The papers are full of the implications of Lloyds having to dump some branches, but one throwaway comment caught my eye - Virgin are apparently bidding in an effort to set up their own retail banking structure (Hmmn - as long as we don't expect banks to run on time we should be OK) and getting hold of the Lloyds branches will give them a running start, said one paper that I saw, because the branches would be sold as a going concern, customers, mortgages and all. (Some of these "spare" branches are former Cheltenham and Gloucester outlets) Now I don't mind the branch network being thinned out - provided it doesn't leave communities completely without access to banking - but I would object to my account being sold on to another lender without some serious consultation up front. Anyone able to shed more light on this?