Lock The Doors And Set Up A Wooden Stand

I went to my bank on Thursday. It was not a satisfying experience. But you knew that...

I swear, the corporate office needs to lock the doors of this branch location, and set up a wooden stand like Lucy Van Pelt's booth dishing out psychiatry advice!

The lobby closes at 2:00. I got there before 1:30. I walked inside behind an amply-rumpused blond woman who strode in like she was on a mission. By the time I got up the one-step sidewalk and through the doors, Blondie was behind the counters, over by the vault and safety deposit box area. I'm pretty sure she wasn't robbing them. The Teller said something to Blondie, who came out and sat down in the chairs by the glass office of the worker who was so unhelpful to me over the credit card issue.

The Teller came to the only open window, which had a sign saying NEXT WINDOW PLEASE, even though the other two clearly had signs saying CLOSED.

"What can I help you with?"

"Three things. Two are really easy, but one will take a little time."

"Oh. Well. I'm the only teller here. So I won't be able to do anything that takes time. What is it you wanted to do?"

"Get two rolls of pennies for this dollar, withdraw $60 from my checking account with this withdrawal slip, and redeem three EE Savings Bonds."

"We don't redeem savings bonds."

"You did last week!"

"Well, yesterday we were notified that we can't do it any more."

"Then how am I supposed to redeem my savings bonds?"

"You'll have to reach out to the Treasury Department."

"Why did they change the policy yesterday?"

"Because too many counterfeit savings bonds were being cashed."

Huh. I wonder if that was a veiled insinuation as to the validity of MY savings bonds! My Public Enemy reputation is hard to shake. Anyhoo... The Teller took my dollar and withdrawal slip, and said, 

"I'll be right with you. I had this other lady first."

Not a problem. I could see cars at the drive-thru. And Blondie was cooling her plump heels in the waiting area. Turns out she was wanting change, and right after giving me my two rolls of pennies, The Teller told her,

"I don't have any pennies to give you. I mean, we HAVE the pennies, but they're in the safe, and I can't get to them right now. Somebody else will have to do that."

"Oh, I don't HAVE to have them now. I still have some. I was just going to stock up. Just give me the others, and I'll be fine. I'll come back tomorrow."

I guess she runs some kind of business that actually takes real money and dispenses change. Anyhoo... here's my question. 

IS MY PATRONAGE NOT AS IMPORTANT AS ANY RANDOM DICK, HARRY, OR TOM?

Why should I be told I can't be helped, in the order that I have arrived and been waited on? Should I stand there for eternity, or until closing time, while The Teller waits on everybody else at the drive-thru, just because they might have simpler needs? What's next, giving preference to those who have $10,000 in the bank, ahead of those who have $100 in their account? Will The Teller only assist those customers with simple needs? 

 

Because be sure to let me know, and I will NOT take up time opening a new credit card account through their bank. Or apply for a loan. I'll just use them as moneychangers, and take my fortune elsewhere. To a bank that might actually ASSIST ME in my banking needs.

How can the corporate office justify keeping this facility open, paying the costs of insurance and electricity and taxes on the property, and harboring two unusable fax machines, to only have ONE PERSON waiting on customers? Set up that little wooden booth, with a folding chair to sit on, a bucket of money out of sight at her feet, and a sign on the front saying: THE TELLER IS [IN]competent. Unless her job description only involves making change, and making deposits and withdrawals.