The world of finance has shown its harshest face to Richard Saville of the University of St Andrews, author of the 300th anniversary history of the Bank of Scotland. When he signed up to write it, the bank suggested it would be helpful if he were to open an account, which he duly did. Now Saville is working on the history of Coutts. Knowing how much lecturers are paid, the top people's bank has not made a similar suggestion.