It's been tough in the marketplace but things are starting to improve," says Greg Jones, managing director of the Royal Bank of Scotland's south east banking division.

Such an observation could apply as much to his own bank as the businesses it serves.

The Royal Bank of Scotland is 84 per cent owned by the taxpayer but Mr Jones is clear about the bank's objectives as it aims to repay its debt to the taxpayer within six years. "Our job is to support customers, to build a stable bank and to improve the return to shareholders."

RBS//NatWest has been at the forefront of the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme which underwrites loans to SMEs, lending some £50m across the south east. "We're going to get judged on what we do, not what we say," he says.

But that does not mean that banks are an easy touch, happy to lend to virtually anyone that asks. That accusation was levelled at banks - in hindsight - about the boom times. "It must be a good proposition. We haven't tightened our criteria; what we've introduced is to make sure repayment is possible."

But banks are accused of unfairly hiking interest rates to borrowers. Jones insists the cost of money rightly reflects risk. "We have a responsibility to our shareholders and the government to generate value so our prices will be higher in certain situations."

He confirms what many bankers say, namely that there is not enough business out there as firms cut overdrafts rather than borrow. According to Mr Jones, if all the bank's customers reached their overdraft limit, the group would be lending another £27bn. "We are open for business in word and deed. We've got capital to lend."

He adds: "We are open about what we are doing to support business and the local Kent community."

Mr Jones says his specialism is leadership and he has 1,000 people on his patch to lead, with around 250 in Kent.

He admits it's been tough for his staff having to read generally hostile media coverage. He would like to see "more balance."

But he is confident things will improve. "We've had tremendous support from our client base and it's amazing how that support rebuilds morale and a sense of purpose."