Banker Bob Emanuels of ABN Amro has the dubious honour of being the first Dutchman to be sacked via a mobile phone text message (sms), according to today’s Financieele Dagblad. A bank spokesman told the FD it was ‘a painful incident that we regret.’

The judge wasn’t too impressed either and has imposed a €1,000 fine on the bank for every day Emanuels is not allowed to work, saying ABN Amro must go through proper channels if it wishes to make him redundant.