One has to wonder how likely it is that anger over the financial downturn will spill over into prosecutions of those bankers found to have been negligent, incompetent or having given themselves huge salaries and bonuses despite being aware that their companies were in trouble.

Reports that bankers have taken upwards of $300 million in salaries and bonuses have been greeted with some disbelief by both customers and politicians. Such revelations can’t generate sympathy for any banker hauled before the courts.

However, one has to question whether such a series of court cases might be more of a reflection of “revenge” as opposed to justice?

There is one thing for sure, that is that banks can be expected to be saddled with rafts of restrictive legislation in the future.