Farewell to McGrigors, formerly McGrigor Donald, resonant names from the heroic era of Glasgow commerce.

The law firm's tradition was much respected by senior partner Kirk Murdoch, who now takes a seat on the non-executive board of Pinsent Masons after the merger of the two firms, which will operate as Pinsent Masons.

Bittersweet perhaps, but those at the sharp end are realistic, according to sources: "While there are those who will lament the loss of the name, people understand the logic and see that it's a price worth paying in return for putting a Scottish business at the heart of an international law firm."

McGrigor Donald earned national recognition in 1878 after the collapse of the City of Glasgow Bank. Then partner Dr AB McGrigor prepared a report on its assets and liabilities. He found the former were £7.2 million and the latter £12.4m – the black hole was equivalent to about £2.5 billion today.

Both McGrigor and Donald recommended gaol for the perpetrators, who did indeed end up in Duke Street, precursor to Barlinnie.

Yet more banker bashing, this time from reader Andy McAdam from Maybole. He writes: "Having retired in 2006, I have anxiously watched the devaluation of my retirement savings as the Bank of England has kept the borrowing costs of British banks at levels below those prevalent in the 1950s.

I have just received a letter from RBS informing me that as from March 26, 2012 "the interest rate for purchases with your RBS credit card will increase from 14.00% pa to 15.75% pa". The 1.75% pa increase in charges represents a 10.71% increase in cost.

Does this increase in charge represent an expert evaluation of a massive increase in bank rate from the current 0.5% pa being announced at the March Monetary Committee meeting? Or, is it the means of rapacious bank executives funding their bonuses?