Rewards in Cuckoo land

The RBS year end results have left so many of us stunned. The bank failed - returned a £2bn loss. It left me thinking what do we actually reward people for? I have worked through so many examples since the results were announced.

Example 1.

I reward my children for

• good behaviour
• good results
• battling through against adversity

Is that the justification of the bankers bonuses? They battled through against adversity? Really?

Example 2.

My bank rewards me for paying in money. A good comparison! 

My bank gives me £5 a month for paying in over £1000 a month. 

BUT they fine me £14 for using my overdraft. They recently fined me £75 for going over my overdraft limit for 4 hours! 

Example 3.

My supermarket rewards me for spending money with them. I spend I get rewarded. I don't spend I am not rewarded.

So, in the three every day examples of rewards where was 'I fail so I gained money'?

Can anyone find an example of where else this is reality? Or are the bankers living in cloud cuckoo land?