Northern Rock

Queues formed outside Northern Rock branches again on Tuesday morning, as customers arrived before dawn to reclaim their money from the crisis-hit bank. Account holders said they were not reassured by the government’s guarantee yesterday that that their savings were secure. Several criticised Alistair Darling for acting too slowly. Some customers had waited in vain outside Northern Rock branches yesterday, while others had been lured out by the sight of long queues. Photograph: guardian.co.uk

Thea Hardy, 54, from Crystal Palace took her place outside the Moorgate branch before 6am, having unsuccessfully queued on Saturday and again - for seven hours - on Monday. She believes the government should have acted faster and does not trust last night's guarantee that all savings are secure. "I'm worried that it will be challenged or that the EU will over-rule it or something else will happen. I just want to get my money out," Ms Hardy said. Photograph: guardian.co.uk

Hundreds of customers descended on the bank's City branches in Moorgate and Houndsditch yesterday, determined to withdraw their savings from the crisis-hit mortgage lender. Photograph: guardian.co.uk

The crowds were still in force on Monday, September 17, with Northern Rock incapable of handling the numbers demanding their money. In London, John Bateman arrived at 7.45am and joined the back of a long queue. One of his sons, a financial analyst, had advised him to empty his account. Bateman said that Northern Rock’s management, led by chief executive Adam Applegarth, had been 'a bit ambitious'. 'He has been a high flier. In fact he’s been a bit of a cavalier.' Photograph: guardian.co.uk

Near the back of the Moorgate queue, another customer was waiting to withdraw his mother’s life savings on her behalf. “You can’t take risks with your own money,” he said. Unlike some Northern Rock customers, he was not critical of the bank’s actions. “They’ve done the right thing by taking out the loan from the Bank of England. I’ve got no problem there.” Photograph: guardian.co.uk

Richard Downer, who also faced a long and uncertain wait at the rear of the Moorgate queue, is planning to put his money into National Savings, “where it might be a bit safer". His wife Audrey said that the family did not trust other banks. “Northern Rock has been affected by the US markets, and that’s bound to have affected other banks too,” Mrs Downer said. Photograph: guardian.co.uk

Rik Saunderson said the plunge in Northern Rock’s share price - sparking speculation of a takeover - had encouraged him to withdraw his money. “That doesn’t affect my investment in any way and it might precipitate the company being bought out, which means my money is safe. But at the same time it means that I don’t have control over which bank has my money, the stock market does.” Photograph: guardian.co.uk

George Payen, who faced a wait of more than two hours in Houndsditch, said: “It’s pointless panicking; it’s like somebody shouting 'fire' in the cinema and everybody runs - it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy. I’m withdrawing just to be on the safe side.” He added that Northern Rock’s financial model, of using short-term borrowing to underpin its mortgages, smacked of “financial illiteracy”. Photograph: guardian.co.uk

Romilly Turton criticised the bank’s management for paying themselves generous bonuses in April. “I was pretty shocked to learn that they had paid themselves a significant increase in salary just days after the FSA warned British lenders that the US sub-prime problems threatened their stability,” he said. “I’m getting my money out while it’s still solvent," he added. "Why wait until it’s insolvent?” Photograph: guardian.co.uk

This couple said they feared for Northern Rock’s future. “If lots of people take their money out then they’ll have to fold, that’s how I see it. I’m worried." Photograph: guardian.co.uk