Juvenile savings revival.

The Commonwealth bank has rediscovered an old way to generate a customer base - " get 'em while they are young ".

Half a century ago this bank was a regular guest at primary and high schools, handing out money boxes and exhorting students to " save for a rainy day ! "

Of course, those were the days when the Commonwealth bank was government owned, and once it became a bandit and joined " the gang of four " it dropped any interest in small change - and kids !

Along with the rest of the banks the days of money boxes are long gone. Coins are now regarded as a " nuisance " and the banks either make a hefty charge for counting coins - or refuse to provide such a service. In most cases they will only accept coins if they are packaged in standard wrappings.

How strange that the pubs and clubs have no problem accepting coins ! If you take the the coins that collect in a bedside tray and want to exchange them for poker machine money you are made welcome.

The coins are dropped into a bin on a scale and this instantly determines the value. No manual counting involved - and you have instant money to play the machines.

Presumably the gambling industry either converts these coins into paper wrapped rolls - or uses it's muscle to demand the banks relax their coin policy.

So - the Commonwealth bank is back to touting for business in the schools and hopes to enlist 300,000 new accounts who will stick with them when they become salary earners.

Whats the betting this approach will be more in keeping with modern times. Not a money box handed out - but a portion of pocket money saved by being transferred monthly from either Dad or Mum's account to that special account which the kid's can access online - and " watch their savings grow ! "

It certainly gives credence to that old adage - " The more things change - the more they stay the same ! "