Would you go to a bank other than your own?

[disneysteve]

On the rare occasion when I need to do something that requires physically going to a bank, I always go to a branch of the bank where we have our account. It would simply never occur to me to just walk into some random other bank and expect them to help me. Apparently some people don't see it that way.

I had to go to the bank today. The woman in front of me in line was apparently trying to cash a check. The check was for over $10,000. The teller explained that they don't keep that much cash on hand and would have to order it. "Are you a customer here?" she asked. The woman said she was not. She banks at TD (another local bank). The teller said they can only order the cash for bank customers and that the woman ought to go to her own bank. They won't have the cash on hand either but they'll be able to order for her. She had to explain this a couple of different ways and the customer was not happy with the answer.

What exactly was she expecting? Why should a bank be expected to provide service to you when you aren't a customer. There's absolutely nothing in it for them and they're the ones assuming all of the risk if anything goes wrong. I can't help but wonder if there was something fishy going on, especially considering the amount of the check. Was there some reason she didn't want to go to her own bank? Who knows. It just amazes me that people would even attempt that.

[bjl584]

I've very rarely walked into a random bank for anything. I always go to my local branch where I have an account when I need to do any banking in person.

[Jluke]

The last time I was in a physical bank branch where I held an account was in 1999.

The original story sounded almost like an attempted scam. Why didn't they just go to a check cashing store?

[disneysteve]

The last time I was in a physical bank branch where I held an account was in 1999.

Where do you go when you need to do something that requires a branch visit? Have you had any trouble going to a bank where you aren't a customer.

[Nutria]

Why should a bank be expected to provide service to you when you aren't a customer.

To convince the person of the bank's overall goodness, and that the person should move her accounts to that bank. However, the amount of bad check fraud is enough to counteract that.

[Jluke]

Where do you go when you need to do something that requires a branch visit? Have you had any trouble going to a bank where you aren't a customer.

I haven't done any kind of banking at a physical branch since I closed my First Union account in 1999.

Amazing right?

[disneysteve]

I haven't done any kind of banking at a physical branch since I closed my First Union account in 1999.

Amazing right?

I end up needing a bank at least 2-3 times a year. Occasionally I have a check that for whatever reason can't be scanned by the mobile app or ATM and I need to go to a teller to deposit it. I guess there's probably some way to mail it in but I honestly don't know.

Today's visit was because we have a couple of affairs to go to this month and we want to give $50 cash gifts. I wanted to get a few crisp $50 bills. The only other place I can think of to do that would be a casino but we're 25 minutes from the nearest one.

When we have a yard sale, I go in to get change and small bills. I'm not sure where else I could do that other than a bank.

[kork13]

I have never used a local bank, I've always used online banking since I first left high school in 2004. My primary bank has only 3 physical locations in the entire country. I've almost never needed to walk into a physical bank. Only times I have had been to get cash changed into either a money order (for deposit to my bank) or into a different currency (to/from USD), and both of those services don't even need to be done at a bank at all. I normally use the post office for money orders, and usually just use ATMs to get foreign currency. But those random times that I do walk into a bank, I'll use whatever bank is handy. They charge a small fee, and I'm done with them for another year or three.

[creditcardfree]

We bank primarily online as well. In the last two years I have visited a branch to change a $20 bill into quarters for a garage sale. The second time was to exchange foreign currency back to dollars. There was a $7.50 for the currency exchange.

Checks can be mailed and this is what we did before mobile banking.

I'm honestly surprised how many people waste time going to a branch when so much can be done online. My neighbor had to pay her mortgage at the branch last week because she didn't mail the check in time. I told her she could pay online (Wells Fargo). I knew she could because that is who we had our mortgage with. She said she couldn't without a fee because she doesn't have a checking account there only a mortgage. She had her mind made up she had to go to the branch. I'm sure she could have mailed the check too without being considered late. Payment on the first is not a firm date for mortgage payment.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

I've gone into a bank that is just a block away numerous times for change. I don't have any accounts there.

[Petunia 100]

On the rare occasion when I need to do something that requires physically going to a bank, I always go to a branch of the bank where we have our account. It would simply never occur to me to just walk into some random other bank and expect them to help me. Apparently some people don't see it that way.

I had to go to the bank today. The woman in front of me in line was apparently trying to cash a check. The check was for over $10,000. The teller explained that they don't keep that much cash on hand and would have to order it. "Are you a customer here?" she asked. The woman said she was not. She banks at TD (another local bank). The teller said they can only order the cash for bank customers and that the woman ought to go to her own bank. They won't have the cash on hand either but they'll be able to order for her. She had to explain this a couple of different ways and the customer was not happy with the answer.

What exactly was she expecting? Why should a bank be expected to provide service to you when you aren't a customer. There's absolutely nothing in it for them and they're the ones assuming all of the risk if anything goes wrong. I can't help but wonder if there was something fishy going on, especially considering the amount of the check. Was there some reason she didn't want to go to her own bank? Who knows. It just amazes me that people would even attempt that.

Was the check drawn on your bank? If so, i can understand why she wanted to cash it there. If not, sounds scammy.

[disneysteve]

Was the check drawn on your bank? If so, i can understand why she wanted to cash it there. If not, sounds scammy.

Why would you go to the bank it was drawn on rather than your own bank? Is there some advantage to doing that?

[disneysteve]

I've gone into a bank that is just a block away numerous times for change. I don't have any accounts there.

Not all banks will do that. There is a bank right next to my urgent care center. We've gone over there for change but they only do that for customers, which I can certainly understand.

[disneysteve]

usually just use ATMs to get foreign currency

You can get foreign currency from an ATM? I've never heard of that. When DD needed Euros this summer, we had to order them from our bank. And she had to go back to convert what she had left over.

[MonkeyMama]

You can get foreign currency from an ATM? I've never heard of that. When DD needed Euros this summer, we had to order them from our bank. And she had to go back to convert what she had left over.

Yes, in foreign countries.