From the Scotsman:
A TOP banker was left red-faced after he was forced to admit he did not know his "chip and pin" credit card pin number when paying for a meal at an exclusive restaurant.
HBOS chief executive, James Crosby, who had just enjoyed a meal in Martin’s Restaurant, Rose Street Lane, Edinburgh, was forced to admit he didn’t know his PIN to stunned waiting staff.
A waitress who asked the bank boss to tap in his PIN into the latest hand-held scanning device, was met with a stony silence, after which an embarrassed Mr Crosby, was forced to admit: "I don’t know it."
It was then left to a business colleague of Mr Crosby, 48, who earns a massive £2.1million a year, to pick up the tab for the table at the cosy restaurant.
Restaurant owner Martin Irons said Mr Crosby made his bank boob on Valentine’s Night when the eaterie was packed with romantic couples and business men.
Mr Irons, who took Mr Crosby’s booking, said: "We do not normally open on Mondays but made an exception this year because it was Valentine’s Day.
"The restaurant was very busy at the time with most tables occupied by couples or business groups.
"Mr Crosby had made a business booking for the night, so I am sure his company were as surprised as we were when he revealed he did not know his PIN for his credit card.
"Strangely enough, our restaurant was used in a recent publicity feature to promote the Chip and PIN scheme."
A spokesman for HBOS said: "Even the best of us occasionally forget our PIN numbers.
"But what is important is that we do not share our PINs with anyone else."
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