For the record, this isn't scare mongering.
The UK banking system isn't fair because, currently, it's pretty much equal. Equal is not fair and fair is not equal. I envisage that those who merely use a bank for a bank account with all the lovely facilities (switch, cash in, cash out, cheques etc) and have their savings/mortgage with the building soc as well as their life, pensions and investments whilst maintaining their credit card with Cap One, taking their personal loan on-line etc - these are the ones who will be affected the most as they don't bring in any revenue.
Commerical banking already works off an 'income' system and most relationship managers will cut better and better deals the more you have with them.
If HSBC is making 93p per week, on avarage, from the 8 million personal customers it has, that is £387 million per year. The bank is expected to turn out £18+Billion. That equates to 0.021% of the total income of HSBC yet the infrastrucutre required is massive. 1200 branches countrywide, with 5 massive superstores planned as well as numerous other branches. Expansion into more of Scotland and Northern Ireland. Need I go on?
I pay for our bank account plus, although it is heavily discounted (55% off) as I get the annual multi-trip travel insurance and it covers my finace's medical conditions - it's a bargain imho.
ANyway, once charges are reduced, there will be more and more and more accounts with charges. Those who don't like it can have a Basic.