Arithmetic in modern finance.

An acquaintance of mine applied to the Northern Bank for a loan today, and was turned down. The reason she was turned down was interesting.

She receives a standing order from one of her relatives for £600 every month and a cheque from another relative for £300 per month. The reasons why they pay her aren't important — the bank weren't interested in the reasons — but pay her they do, and will continue to do long-term. The payments are there on her statements where her bank can see them.

The Northern Bank told her that she could not have a loan because her outgoings were greater than her incomings. They aren't, but the Northern Bank refused to take into account the above-mentioned payments. In other words, if we insist on ignoring nearly a thousand pounds of your income, your income is too low for us to give you a loan.

Does this make sense to anyone?