Today's conversation with a bank's service manager

[Stinky The Clown]

So I went down to my bank today. A locally owned and locally operated bank. Not connected in any way what whatever with the national megabanks. I needed to check the balance of a CD preparatory to withdrawing part of it to put a down payment on a house we're buying with our youngest son.

We've been customers here for more than 25 years. We know the managers by first name. We know the tellers by first name. We know the service people by first name.

So I ask for a printout of the balance of **my** CD.

The service manager asks for my drivers license.

"What is this, 'Lori'? Part of George Bush's America?"

A not-so-surreptitious eye roll and a weary sigh from 'Lori' and then, bitterly, "Yeah. We have to do this for every transaction over $10K, including just balance inquiries."

"How much will you be withdrawing?"

"<more than $10K>"

"Be sure you come in the mid morning or mid afternoon to get the cashier's check. We now have to have two officer's signatures for any cashier's check over $10,000. At those times, there's always at least two officers here."

My politics are as obvious as a Hummer at a Volkswagen dealer and I know these people. It is generally NOT Bush country. And these good people are NOT happy about this sort of crap. They're being very apologetic about what they're being forced to do. No bullshit about 'for your protection'. This is some bushco bullshit and that's how they're playing it ..... or at least that's how 'Lori' played it to me.

Yessiree ..... everything changed after 9/11

[Carni]

1. My husband just had to provide a fingerprint & credit card tonight

In order to cash a 380 dollar check made out to cash - and he was cashing it at the bank it was drawn off of.

The above was in conjunction with a driver's license of course.

WTF is going on in this country?

[havocmom]

2. That security involving anything over $10,000 is NOT just since 9/11

Been around a longer time. Was done as part of the 'War on Drugs'. But, I do believe there was a Bush in the WH at the time.

[Stinky The Clown]

3. Actually, that was more limited

It had to do with moving money. This was a damned balance inquiry!

And as to moving money ..... I was recently an estate executor and had to move several hundreds of thousands of dollars in chunks between $10K and $50K. I used this very same bank and never had to even show my driver's license. That was about 2 years ago.

[havocmom]

5. Lots of places that were not in compliance have had to get in line

Wonder if that check 21 system was part of the reining in. Sure seemed like a gimme to companies that make the scanning equipment banks were required to purchase.

Interestingly, a lot of the same compainies that make voting computer. Gee, who saw that payoff coming? The banks get a payoff in the form of increased NSF charges and other 'service' charges now that they process checks without sending them to the Fed to clear first.

Whole lotta changes but it was about money and favors. Not much to do with 9/11. Sorta like Iraq; nothing to do with it what so ever, but blamed none the less.

[high density]

4. It's generally the same thing at any bank

They're just following the law, but I agree that it's pretty lame.

[Canadian Socialist]

6. Huh. This is odd.

My friend at work doesn't have a bank account. She's been cashing her cheques @ Money Mart which charges an arm and a leg. When I found out, I was appalled. So what we're doing now, is she simply signs the back of the cheque, I put into my account and then draw out the cash. Simple and clean. But I guess the banking system is different than the States.

[Stinky The Clown]

7. Hahaha

Canada .... there's the answer. You're in a free country! :)

[grasswire]

9. can't do that here

No third-party checks can be deposited to bank accounts anymore. Not even if it's a United States Government check and the payee is standing right there with the account holder. Nope. No can do.

[Canadian Socialist]

10. To be honest, I was a little worried at first

then I realised that if the bank thought the cheque was stolen, they would put a hold on it. As my friend had not reported the cheque (BTW, corporate cheque) stolen, it would be like her signing over cash to me. Plus, it saves her lots of $ every month. The only thing I don't get is why she can't get a bank account.

[grasswire]

8. today at a Wells Fargo branch...

...I watched a ten-year-old sweet girl try to cash a $30 check from her grandparents sent for vacation money. Her father was with her. The check was a Wells Fargo check, on her grandparents' account.

I was spitting mad as they whipsawed this kid and her dad.

Teller to father: "Sorry, we can't cash this if YOU don't have an account here, too."

Dad: "We phoned ahead and were told there would be no problem."

Teller: "Who did you talk to?"

Dad: "I don't know -- it was my wife who called."

Teller: "I'll have to check with my manager."

Manager: "I'm sorry, we just don't cash this kind of check unless the parent is also a customer."

AGHH!! The girl wants thirty bucks to spend on cotton candy and carnival rides! The check is drawn on a Wells Fargo account!

Man-o-man, if I ever, ever, ever had impetus to boycott a bank, it was today.

[Stinky The Clown]

11. Vee Haff Our Rrrrulez

Do yoo haff yewer papahs?

That makes me mad and sad at the same time. My kids LOVED getting a 'big person' check from gramma an' grampa.

'What shall we tell the children?'