Which banks are luddites?

Internet banking is an essential service for the customers of many banks. You might therefore assume that banks would appreciate the importance of being good citizens of the internet. However, it is disappointing to find that even in 2010 most major Australian banks have retrograde hyperlink policies. Here's my quick survey of the policies, if any, the banks have on allowing external sites to to link to them.

Commonwealth Bank: no policy evident (so link away).
NAB: no policy evident (so they get a link).

ANZ: Under their "Website Terms of Use" they state:

Please contact ANZ if you would like to place a link to any part of the ANZ Web Site.

Westpac: Their lengthy "Website Terms and Conditions" state:

3.1 Your site must not contain any material that disparages Westpac or its goods and services.

9. Termination of agreement/removal of link and logo
9.1 Westpac reserves the right, solely at its discretion, to request removal of your link at any time. It also reserves the right to review your link, pursuant to which you agree to provide any necessary passwords.

Well, they might consider this site to be disparaging Westpac's internet policies. I'm also not keen on given them the password to this blog, so they get no link from me.

HSBC has a "Hyperlink Policy":

You must always obtain the prior written approval of HSBC before creating a hyperlink in any form from a third party website to any HSBC website. HSBC may or may not give such approval at its absolute discretion. In normal circumstances, we may only approve a hyperlink which displays plainly our name or website address. Any use or display of our logos, trade names and trademarks as a hyperlink will not be approved unless in very exceptional circumstances and may be subject to a fee as HSBC may determine at its absolute discretion.

We have a winner! If I link to HSBC they might charge me for the free advertising they get.

I must say that I am very surprised at the unenlightened attitude of most of these banks. They have no right in law to control who links to them, and to suggest otherwise is petty.