Today's conversation with a bank's service manager [View All]

[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