The study, which has charted social attitudes for the past 30 years found that confidence in banks remains at an all-time low.

Less than 20% of people believe that banks are ‘well run’, compared to 90% in 1983, when NatCen Social Research began questioning the British public about their attitudes towards certain institutions, including the police, press and the BBC.

The huge loss of confidence in bankers represents “probably the most dramatic change of attitude registered in 30 years of British social attitudes”, the researchers said.

NatCen interviewed some 3,000 members of the public for its annual survey.

Among its findings were that Britons’ attitude towards the unemployed appear to be softening. Comparing this year’s findings to last year’s, a smaller proportion of respondents felt that benefits were too high, while fewer people believe benefit claimants “could find a job if they really wanted one”.