The Finance Sector Union today called for bank customers to direct their ire in the right direction in the wake of the move by the major banks to increase interest rates.

The union has called on the community to understand that it is not bank staff that have made the decision and that staff will continue to be under enormous pressure to sell debt products in order to gain simple wage increases.

The decision to make the increases at a time when working families are feeling the pinch of record indebtedness has been criticised by the union who believe it is another grab for further profits by the banks and a problem of their own making.

Leon Carter, National Secretary of the FSU, said "Better than anyone else, bank employees know what the impact of this decision will be on their customers. It's very important that bank customers direct their anger at those who made it - not those who have to carry it out."

"Yet the public also need to understand that the banks expect their employees to sell credit products in order to maintain their jobs or even qualify for minimal pay increases."

"Surely, if the banks are making these decisions to maintain their massive profits, the least they can do is review the enormous pressure they apply to their employees through unfair sales targets."

"We call for a change of attitude from the executives of these enormous money houses. We say they have a responsibility that goes beyond hoarding billions in profit. They have a broader responsibility to their staff and their community and should consider all stakeholders before making such decisions" said Mr Carter.