Eric tries to leave banks in the red

A GROUP of activists in Paris have emptied their bank accounts after a call by Eric Cantona to protest practices by leading banks.

The group marched in costumes in Paris yesterday and withdrew money from a branch of Société Générale. They then opened accounts with a nearby branch of Credit Cooperatif bank.

Activists have seized on former Manchester United star Cantona’s call in October for depositors to empty their bank accounts. The groups suggest signing up with cooperative banks and rejecting major banks that were given bailouts and that are often blamed for the global financial crisis. Bankers and some economists warn against heeding the call.