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Despite substantial structural change and a significant intensification of competition in the UK financial services sector in recent years, the UK banking sector remains relatively under researched. This paper uses a panel data sample covering the main UK banks over the period 1984 to 1995 to investigate relative efficiencies within the sector and to analyse productivity change in UK banking over the sample period. The results provide important insights into the size-efficiency relationship in UK banking and offer a perspective on the evolving structure and competitive environment within which banks are currently operating.

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) was used to monitor and benchmark productivity in a chain of 15 hotels over a 12‐month period. Quarter results were compared with each other and with standard accounting data for the same period. In this way it was possible to identify and study units which showed anomalous behavour in terms of their measured productivity and gross profit. These were apparently related to factors other than size or staffing levels. Advantages and disadvantages of DEA are discussed, as well as its potential for the motivation and appraisal of local management and for optimizing budgetary control. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.