Down and dirty drawers

On Wed, 06 Nov 2013 19:55:32 -0600, dpb <[email protected]> wrote:

>On 11/6/2013 6:41 PM, [email protected] wrote:
>> On Wed, 06 Nov 2013 15:23:03 -0600, dpb<[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>> On 11/6/2013 12:23 PM, [email protected] wrote:
>>> ...
>>>
>>>> Banks aren't in business to serve people, rather businesses. If you
>>>> don't get "free" everything, find a different bank, or better, a CU.
>>>
>>> That certainly varies by bank. Some are very commercially oriented,
>>> others, sorta' in between and yet others are very much interested in the
>>> personal banking.
>>
>> Sure, it varies a lot by bank but people are not their purpose.
>> They're "commercial banks". Credit unions are run by people for
>> people (and yes, they vary a lot, too). Ours happens to be very good,
>> so we've stuck with them for 40 years, over 20 of that living in a
>> different state.
>...
>
>Nonsense.

It's not.

>CU's have their place certainly, but they're not _necessarily_ any
>panacea, either. We dealt w/ a decent CU in TN, but the local bank here
>is far better.

That's a rarity. What about the CU there?

On 11/7/2013 12:56 PM, [email protected] wrote:
> On Wed, 06 Nov 2013 19:55:32 -0600, dpb<[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> On 11/6/2013 6:41 PM, [email protected] wrote:
>>> On Wed, 06 Nov 2013 15:23:03 -0600, dpb<[email protected]> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On 11/6/2013 12:23 PM, [email protected] wrote:
>>>> ...
>>>>
>>>>> Banks aren't in business to serve people, rather businesses. If you
>>>>> don't get "free" everything, find a different bank, or better, a CU.
>>>>
>>>> That certainly varies by bank. Some are very commercially oriented,
>>>> others, sorta' in between and yet others are very much interested in the
>>>> personal banking.
>>>
>>> Sure, it varies a lot by bank but people are not their purpose.
>>> They're "commercial banks". Credit unions are run by people for
>>> people (and yes, they vary a lot, too). Ours happens to be very good,
>>> so we've stuck with them for 40 years, over 20 of that living in a
>>> different state.
>> ...
>>
>> Nonsense.
>
> It's not.

As a generic statement it's worthless--there are very good, mediocre and
very bad CUs just as there are of everything else. There were three
large ones in TN that each filled one of the niches...the third actually
ended up folding and was absorbed by the second not long after we left.

>> CU's have their place certainly, but they're not _necessarily_ any
>> panacea, either. We dealt w/ a decent CU in TN, but the local bank here
>> is far better.
>
> That's a rarity. What about the CU there?

Not in my experience it's not, no. Then again, I don't deal with the
major banks but smaller, local ones where I know the people involved
directly outside the bank as well.

There have been some of those everywhere I've lived; large communities
as well as small.

Again, there are some but none for which am eligible that would consider
using instead of the bank. We do have some funds there--grandparents
and parents were cofounders and I have a $5 bill there from the same
time in the late 50s still there... :)

--

On Wed, 06 Nov 2013 21:36:55 -0600, -MIKE- <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Everything about the bank sucked compared to both CUs.
>Lousy service, fees, lower interest rates, did I mention fees?

Just because you've had a better experience at CU's doesn't discount
someone else having a better experience at some bank.

On Fri, 8 Nov 2013 12:24:53 -0800, "Lew Hodgett"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
>"dpb" wrote:
>
><snip>
>> Lew mistakes the _real_ reason to go into the bank isn't to do the
>> routine business w/ a teller but to visit with the prez, catch up on
>> the local "more businessy" news in town in factual context don't get
>> at the coffee shop from the street, and otherwise connect w/ another
>> significant portion of the community...again, this presupposes using
>> the local bank with a local presence not the outside interloper
>> chain that has no interest in the community other than what can ship
>> back to main office from there.
>--------------------------------------------------
>If I want to bullshit, I'll go to the boat yard.
>
>Lew
>

The funny thing was Lew you voiced your opinion of why you didn't want
to go inside, and I told you why it was to big deal for me because of
where I lived. Look where this thread has gone. Just shows life is
interesting.

On Fri, 8 Nov 2013 12:24:53 -0800, "Lew Hodgett"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
>"dpb" wrote:
>
><snip>
>> Lew mistakes the _real_ reason to go into the bank isn't to do the
>> routine business w/ a teller but to visit with the prez, catch up on
>> the local "more businessy" news in town in factual context don't get
>> at the coffee shop from the street, and otherwise connect w/ another
>> significant portion of the community...again, this presupposes using
>> the local bank with a local presence not the outside interloper
>> chain that has no interest in the community other than what can ship
>> back to main office from there.
>--------------------------------------------------
>If I want to bullshit, I'll go to the boat yard.
>
>Lew
>
>
The bull barn at the local ABC has fresher BS and a whole lot more of
it- - - - - - - -.

On 11/6/2013 12:23 PM, [email protected] wrote:
> On Tue, 05 Nov 2013 11:50:39 -0600, Leon <lcb11211@swbelldotnet>
> wrote:
>
>> On 11/5/2013 10:43 AM, Mike Marlow wrote:
>>> Leon wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> I side with you Robert, better to not be working for a bank. Seems
>>>> these days that the goal is to teach the employees to eliminate their
>>>> jobs. It goes something like this, Mr Soandso, did you know that you
>>>> don't have to come into the bank? You can simply use our out doors ATM
>>>> and in short order the bank will no longer need me any more.
>>>>
>>>
>>> Amen! I can still remember when ATM's were being introduced and the banks
>>> were advertising hard, trying to convince us all that this was going to be a
>>> cost savings initiative and that it would add to our convenience, while not
>>> adding to our costs or the bank's cost of operation. I'm big on ATM's so
>>> this is not a complaint about ATM's but the very first thing to come along
>>> was network fees for using these conveniences, and then the inevitable
>>> reduction in staff at that bank. No longer could you walk in and talk with
>>> someone who actually knew you and understood you, and trusted you. Now -
>>> people shift around from branch to branch and you never know who you will
>>> see on any given day, you and I are expected to do more of the "work" of our
>>> own banking, and the bank simply charges us fees of one sort or another for
>>> all of these advances. I am indeed an advocate of some of the conveniences
>>> that ATM's have brought. I like that I can drive up to the ATM, stick a few
>>> hundred, or even a couple of thousand dollars worth of good old fashioned
>>> green backs into the ATM, and at the press of a button, see that it is
>>> immediately and accurately placed into my account. Much faster than the old
>>> lady that used to have to click her way through 18 steps and multiple copies
>>> just to make that same transaction. Not at all as interesting as the new
>>> young teller that was worth the wait in line just to talk to and look at...
>>> <sigh>... Sometimes those repetitive processes were a very good thing. But
>>> in the end, automation does two things. One - it enhances our lives and
>>> makes rote processes easier and faster and better. Two - it replaces the
>>> sometimes necessary human interaction - the intimate human element, with a
>>> more distant and removed "encounter". These days, human intervention is
>>> more of a necessary evil and the cost of that is the very intimacy of
>>> personal relationships.
>>>
>>
>> Some 30 or so years ago we tried the ATM's. On a few occasions our
>> withdrawals did match the withdrawal amount. It was more trouble to
>> follow up for days on end, to get what we were credited/debited for,
>> than the convenience was worth. We have not use an ATM in at least 28
>> years.
>>
> We live by ATMs. Our CU is 800 miles from here and we haven't
> physically been in the place for over 20 years. Our only access is
> through the ATM network and remote (mail, phone, Internet).
>
>>>> The freaking key grips that call the shots are clueless about
>>>> customers that want to see the same faces when they walk in.
>>>
>>> That's kind of what I am trying to get to above...
>>>
>>>> The
>>>> customers want to get some level of service for their 19 cents they
>>>> are being paid for their $15,000 in minimum balances.
>>>>
>>>
>>> Isn't it just the shits that the banks charge us for what they do - they
>>> hold our money and use it to make money, and they charge us to simply do
>>> that. And the rate of return against those charges - -if we meet the
>>> minimum deposit requirements, is just flat out insulting.
>>
>> I pay no fees, and the moment my bank chooses to do so I will be
>> changing banks, I can be charged a fee at any bank.
>> The only thing keeping me from changing banks now is the effort to
>> change and or the possibility of having to pay fees.
>
> Banks aren't in business to serve people, rather businesses. If you
> don't get "free" everything, find a different bank, or better, a CU.
>
I don't pay fees, but what is a CU?

"Mike M" wrote:
> Totally agree with you, I've never used ATM's wouldn't even know
> how,
> it's easier to just go inside.
-----------------------------------------------------
Interesting.

Can't remember the last time I was in a bank.

Standing in line for 15-20 minutes waiting to get to a teller comes
under the
heading of ridiculous in my book.

Forget even thinking about going to a bank on a Friday.

Lew

On 11/06/2013 01:31 PM, Leon wrote:

> I don't pay fees, but what is a CU?

Credit Union. I have belonged to one for the last 20 years and there
are no fees. Similar to KRW, I'm 45 minutes from the nearest branch.
ATMs at other local CUs are fee free and I can do check deposits online
from my desktop using a scanner or my tablet using the camera. Since we
do RVing for about 4 months a year, we have all our regular bills paid
automatically - no fees.

Credit Unions are generally run _by_ folks elected from the membership
and are run _for_ the membership.


--
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure,the creed of ignorance, and the
gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery"
-Winston Churchill

On Tue, 05 Nov 2013 11:50:39 -0600, Leon <lcb11211@swbelldotnet>
wrote:

>On 11/5/2013 10:43 AM, Mike Marlow wrote:
>> Leon wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> I side with you Robert, better to not be working for a bank. Seems
>>> these days that the goal is to teach the employees to eliminate their
>>> jobs. It goes something like this, Mr Soandso, did you know that you
>>> don't have to come into the bank? You can simply use our out doors ATM
>>> and in short order the bank will no longer need me any more.
>>>
>>
>> Amen! I can still remember when ATM's were being introduced and the banks
>> were advertising hard, trying to convince us all that this was going to be a
>> cost savings initiative and that it would add to our convenience, while not
>> adding to our costs or the bank's cost of operation. I'm big on ATM's so
>> this is not a complaint about ATM's but the very first thing to come along
>> was network fees for using these conveniences, and then the inevitable
>> reduction in staff at that bank. No longer could you walk in and talk with
>> someone who actually knew you and understood you, and trusted you. Now -
>> people shift around from branch to branch and you never know who you will
>> see on any given day, you and I are expected to do more of the "work" of our
>> own banking, and the bank simply charges us fees of one sort or another for
>> all of these advances. I am indeed an advocate of some of the conveniences
>> that ATM's have brought. I like that I can drive up to the ATM, stick a few
>> hundred, or even a couple of thousand dollars worth of good old fashioned
>> green backs into the ATM, and at the press of a button, see that it is
>> immediately and accurately placed into my account. Much faster than the old
>> lady that used to have to click her way through 18 steps and multiple copies
>> just to make that same transaction. Not at all as interesting as the new
>> young teller that was worth the wait in line just to talk to and look at...
>> <sigh>... Sometimes those repetitive processes were a very good thing. But
>> in the end, automation does two things. One - it enhances our lives and
>> makes rote processes easier and faster and better. Two - it replaces the
>> sometimes necessary human interaction - the intimate human element, with a
>> more distant and removed "encounter". These days, human intervention is
>> more of a necessary evil and the cost of that is the very intimacy of
>> personal relationships.
>>
>
>Some 30 or so years ago we tried the ATM's. On a few occasions our
>withdrawals did match the withdrawal amount. It was more trouble to
>follow up for days on end, to get what we were credited/debited for,
>than the convenience was worth. We have not use an ATM in at least 28
>years.
>
Totally agree with you, I've never used ATM's wouldn't even know how,
it's easier to just go inside.

Mike M
>
>
>
>>> The freaking key grips that call the shots are clueless about
>>> customers that want to see the same faces when they walk in.
>>
>> That's kind of what I am trying to get to above...
>>
>>> The
>>> customers want to get some level of service for their 19 cents they
>>> are being paid for their $15,000 in minimum balances.
>>>
>>
>> Isn't it just the shits that the banks charge us for what they do - they
>> hold our money and use it to make money, and they charge us to simply do
>> that. And the rate of return against those charges - -if we meet the
>> minimum deposit requirements, is just flat out insulting.
>
>I pay no fees, and the moment my bank chooses to do so I will be
>changing banks, I can be charged a fee at any bank.
>The only thing keeping me from changing banks now is the effort to
>change and or the possibility of having to pay fees.
>
The only fees I pay are on investment accounts that are managed. Since
they have done very well for me I don't begrudge them that payment.

Mike M
>
>
>
>
>>
>>> Hope she gets a better job soon!
>>
>> Me two, but unless the job seeker is under 40, and willing to make insane
>> personal sacrifices of their own personal life, the chances of finding a
>> decent replacement job is not a promising thing.
>>

On Tue, 05 Nov 2013 11:50:39 -0600, Leon <lcb11211@swbelldotnet>
wrote:

>On 11/5/2013 10:43 AM, Mike Marlow wrote:
>> Leon wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> I side with you Robert, better to not be working for a bank. Seems
>>> these days that the goal is to teach the employees to eliminate their
>>> jobs. It goes something like this, Mr Soandso, did you know that you
>>> don't have to come into the bank? You can simply use our out doors ATM
>>> and in short order the bank will no longer need me any more.
>>>
>>
>> Amen! I can still remember when ATM's were being introduced and the banks
>> were advertising hard, trying to convince us all that this was going to be a
>> cost savings initiative and that it would add to our convenience, while not
>> adding to our costs or the bank's cost of operation. I'm big on ATM's so
>> this is not a complaint about ATM's but the very first thing to come along
>> was network fees for using these conveniences, and then the inevitable
>> reduction in staff at that bank. No longer could you walk in and talk with
>> someone who actually knew you and understood you, and trusted you. Now -
>> people shift around from branch to branch and you never know who you will
>> see on any given day, you and I are expected to do more of the "work" of our
>> own banking, and the bank simply charges us fees of one sort or another for
>> all of these advances. I am indeed an advocate of some of the conveniences
>> that ATM's have brought. I like that I can drive up to the ATM, stick a few
>> hundred, or even a couple of thousand dollars worth of good old fashioned
>> green backs into the ATM, and at the press of a button, see that it is
>> immediately and accurately placed into my account. Much faster than the old
>> lady that used to have to click her way through 18 steps and multiple copies
>> just to make that same transaction. Not at all as interesting as the new
>> young teller that was worth the wait in line just to talk to and look at...
>> <sigh>... Sometimes those repetitive processes were a very good thing. But
>> in the end, automation does two things. One - it enhances our lives and
>> makes rote processes easier and faster and better. Two - it replaces the
>> sometimes necessary human interaction - the intimate human element, with a
>> more distant and removed "encounter". These days, human intervention is
>> more of a necessary evil and the cost of that is the very intimacy of
>> personal relationships.
>>
>
>Some 30 or so years ago we tried the ATM's. On a few occasions our
>withdrawals did match the withdrawal amount. It was more trouble to
>follow up for days on end, to get what we were credited/debited for,
>than the convenience was worth. We have not use an ATM in at least 28
>years.
>
We live by ATMs. Our CU is 800 miles from here and we haven't
physically been in the place for over 20 years. Our only access is
through the ATM network and remote (mail, phone, Internet).

>>> The freaking key grips that call the shots are clueless about
>>> customers that want to see the same faces when they walk in.
>>
>> That's kind of what I am trying to get to above...
>>
>>> The
>>> customers want to get some level of service for their 19 cents they
>>> are being paid for their $15,000 in minimum balances.
>>>
>>
>> Isn't it just the shits that the banks charge us for what they do - they
>> hold our money and use it to make money, and they charge us to simply do
>> that. And the rate of return against those charges - -if we meet the
>> minimum deposit requirements, is just flat out insulting.
>
>I pay no fees, and the moment my bank chooses to do so I will be
>changing banks, I can be charged a fee at any bank.
>The only thing keeping me from changing banks now is the effort to
>change and or the possibility of having to pay fees.

Banks aren't in business to serve people, rather businesses. If you
don't get "free" everything, find a different bank, or better, a CU.

On 11/6/2013 2:31 PM, Leon wrote:
...

> I don't pay fees, but what is a CU?

Credit Union, I presume.

--

On 11/6/2013 12:23 PM, [email protected] wrote:
...

> Banks aren't in business to serve people, rather businesses. If you
> don't get "free" everything, find a different bank, or better, a CU.

That certainly varies by bank. Some are very commercially oriented,
others, sorta' in between and yet others are very much interested in the
personal banking.

How much of which tends to correlate with size and regionality of the
operation altho even some of the very large have branches that
concentrate on local/personal arenas.

Best personal service if that is what one is looking for is quite likely
going to be found with the local or smaller regional bank, not BOA or
W-F or somesuch.

--

On Friday, November 8, 2013 9:34:37 PM UTC-6, dpb wrote:
=20
>=20
> Largely it depends on how important it is to one to go to the effort to=
=20
>=20
> not just take the apparently easy road first in choosing.

I can't decide. I don't know if that last statement was ignorance, stupidi=
ty, or arrogance. Maybe some of all.=20

First, since you obviously live in a different banking environment than I d=
o, you can't possibly know the banking culture we have here in Texas. I kn=
ow, I know... "but Google said Robert!"=20

State charters mean little here. Banks are banks. We aren't in Mayberry R=
FD. There are no doubt some banks that have that old time Mom and Pop atmo=
sphere somewhere in this state; somewhere that has the old men in the corne=
r playing dominoes around the cast iron stove, the president's wife make co=
okies for their customers every once and a while, and there is still a free=
toaster with a 1000 S&H Green Stamps with every new account.

You are an complete idiot if you think I don't have the same banking relati=
ons I had 25 years ago because

> Largely it depends on how important it is to one to go to the effort to
not just take the apparently easy road first in choosing. >

You think I wouldn't do what it takes to take care of my company and my bus=
iness? You think monetary relationships aren't important to a contractor w=
here half of you business is managing money/budgets? You think someone lik=
e me doesn't have a bank president that will sit down and bullshit with me =
because I am too lazy to look for one?

Maybe you should Google, "Daddy, how come people all over the USA aren't ju=
st like me?" Maybe if you could see beyond the end of your street...

Sheesh.

Robert

Don't be a

On 11/9/2013 12:32 PM, dpb wrote:
> On 11/9/2013 8:33 AM, Swingman wrote:
>> On 11/8/2013 9:34 PM, dpb wrote:
>>
>>> Several seem to have been around at least 30-40 yr, a fair number are
>>> newer...that's all w/o any knowledge at all of Houston and very quick
>>> looking...
>>
>> Yep, you and Google have it all figured out, from a thousand miles away,
>> no personal experience with Texas banking and history, and "w/o any
>> knowledge at all".
>
> Yep, but I'd be pretty certain having looked at several of the
> individual bank's filings they're pretty solid...
>
> The point is, however, that there _ARE_ individual local banks even in
> the metro areas still if you go find them. Not all are necessarily the
> conglomerates.
>
> --


Ok, consider local. For instance a bank across town for you "might"
mean a 10 mile drive. For me a drive across town would take 40 minutes
on a Sunday morning. Then 40 minutes back.

On Fri, 08 Nov 2013 18:26:28 -0600, dpb <[email protected]> wrote:
>A quick search found several local, independent banks in the Houston
>area so the model isn't _completely_ dead...even in TX urban blight. :)

I'd guess what really counts is how long those independent banks have
been there and if its employees live and work in the same
neighbourhood.

Forty years ago, I knew my bank manager's name without having to read
it and I might be greeted by one or more of the bank's employees if I
was out shopping somewhere. And, this was in a big city. Those days
are long gone.

On 11/8/2013 9:34 PM, dpb wrote:

> Several seem to have been around at least 30-40 yr, a fair number are
> newer...that's all w/o any knowledge at all of Houston and very quick
> looking...

Yep, you and Google have it all figured out, from a thousand miles away,
no personal experience with Texas banking and history, and "w/o any
knowledge at all".

Good luck making that believable.

--
eWoodShop: www.eWoodShop.com
Wood Shop: www.e-WoodShop.net
https://plus.google.com/114902129577517371552/posts
http://www.custommade.com/by/ewoodshop/
KarlCaillouet@ (the obvious)

On 11/8/2013 9:07 PM, [email protected] wrote:
> On Fri, 08 Nov 2013 18:26:28 -0600, dpb<[email protected]> wrote:
>> A quick search found several local, independent banks in the Houston
>> area so the model isn't _completely_ dead...even in TX urban blight. :)
>
> I'd guess what really counts is how long those independent banks have
> been there and if its employees live and work in the same
> neighbourhood.
>
> Forty years ago, I knew my bank manager's name without having to read
> it and I might be greeted by one or more of the bank's employees if I
> was out shopping somewhere. And, this was in a big city. Those days
> are long gone.

Several seem to have been around at least 30-40 yr, a fair number are
newer...that's all w/o any knowledge at all of Houston and very quick
looking...

The point is they're not _necessarily_ "long gone" unless one allows it
to be so by not finding and using the ones that are there. If you were
with an outfit that was bought out and stayed that may be what it looks
like from that vantage point and it may not be worth the effort to make
a move, but there are other options available if one wishes.

Even here one of the old locals got caught up in the merger mania and
ended up being swallowed up again and again until it's now a sorry BOA
branch w/ no live tellers at all. But, the other two in town remained
independent and thrive along with a third that formed about 20 yr ago
and another from nearby OK panhandle that has opened a branch in town
and also seems to be doing well. Being a relatively small town, I know
the principals in all of these except the BOA and do recognize them on
the street and see them regularly. In TN w/ 1M people in regional area,
I _still_ knew the people and saw them on occasion outside as well but
again I didn't go to one of the big name outfits or even 1st TN that's
regional.

Largely it depends on how important it is to one to go to the effort to
not just take the apparently easy road first in choosing.

--

On 11/9/2013 8:33 AM, Swingman wrote:
> On 11/8/2013 9:34 PM, dpb wrote:
>
>> Several seem to have been around at least 30-40 yr, a fair number are
>> newer...that's all w/o any knowledge at all of Houston and very quick
>> looking...
>
> Yep, you and Google have it all figured out, from a thousand miles away,
> no personal experience with Texas banking and history, and "w/o any
> knowledge at all".

Yep, but I'd be pretty certain having looked at several of the
individual bank's filings they're pretty solid...

The point is, however, that there _ARE_ individual local banks even in
the metro areas still if you go find them. Not all are necessarily the
conglomerates.

--

On 11/9/2013 12:30 PM, [email protected] wrote:
...

I don't think any of that, really...other than what you (seemingly)
complained of earlier that the rep's you've been assigned keep changing
on you.

If you get adequate service and are satisfied, that's good -- but even
in large locations and in TX (and yes, I _do_ know something of the
_state_ of TX even if not Houston as we're within spittin' distance of
the panhandle so do have business dealings in TX) there are still
independents.

There were a bunch who were (again at least seemingly) saying there
simply are none any longer and I'm certain that isn't true.

And, for Leon before I kill-mark the thread to not be inclined to
continue what has gotten far too far afield, yes, I understand that in a
large metro area it may be there isn't a convenient branch of a smaller
bank within that area that despite how good they might actually be that
they are a logical choice. Then again, here where things are sometimes
widely separated for the opposite reason of there being none of a
particular service within a 100-mi or so radius, we're pretty used to
commuting for some things or having to make parts runs to the nearest JD
or CIH dealer that has the particular part that local doesn't when need
it... :)

If one thinks one has to have a blue borg then you're talking a 65-mi
drive, minimum. Before gas prices got so high it wasn't at all uncommon
for folks to fly to Colorado Springs or Denver for a supper and return
that night when there was no restaurant that was of the sophistication
of actually using real table linen in town... :)

--

On Fri, 08 Nov 2013 16:36:08 -0600, Swingman <[email protected]> wrote:

>On 11/8/2013 1:19 PM, dpb wrote:
>
>> Sorry to hear it...it's still _the_ way here.
>
>Good for you. It hasn't been that way in the urban jungles of Texas
>since the bank shakeout in the mid to late 80's.
>
>Enjoy it while you can.

I can remember over 30 years ago when we had drinks at lunch driving
around with the banker passing a bottle around in the car. I was the
youngster and to this day I admire the friendships that my dad had
from WWII. Those guy got a lot done. Back then all the government
offices had plain steel furniture. Seems like now they are all trying
to create the perfect job environment.

Mike M

"Mike M" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Tue, 5 Nov 2013 22:04:31 -0800,

"Lew Hodgett" wrote:

"Lew Hodgett" wrote:

>Interesting.
>
>Can't remember the last time I was in a bank.
>
>Standing in line for 15-20 minutes waiting to get to a teller comes
>under the
>heading of ridiculous in my book.
>
>Forget even thinking about going to a bank on a Friday.
----------------------------------------------------------
"Mike M" wrote:


> A lot depends on where you live. The nearest town to me has a
> population of 7100. Most of them all work in one of the big cities
> so
> it's pretty quiet during the week for those of us who choose not to
> work.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Living in a major metro area puts a different spin on things.

When I came to Los Angeles, looked around for the bank that had the
most ATMs.

No surprise it was BOA.

After using a savings account as a parking place for spending money
available thru
ATM for a few years, BOA offered a free checking account if you opened
it with
a direct deposit tied to it.

NBD, so now have a free local checking acc't with direct payment of
most bills paid as req'd.

I'm left with 1-2 paper checks per month and no need to go into a bank
branch.

Don't miss having to stand in line.

The nearest BOA has five (5) ATMs and anytime I've peaked inside the
bank have never
seen more that three (3) tellers on the windows.

Think there is a message there.


Lew

"dpb" wrote:

<snip>
> Lew mistakes the _real_ reason to go into the bank isn't to do the
> routine business w/ a teller but to visit with the prez, catch up on
> the local "more businessy" news in town in factual context don't get
> at the coffee shop from the street, and otherwise connect w/ another
> significant portion of the community...again, this presupposes using
> the local bank with a local presence not the outside interloper
> chain that has no interest in the community other than what can ship
> back to main office from there.
--------------------------------------------------
If I want to bullshit, I'll go to the boat yard.

Lew

On Friday, November 8, 2013 7:35:20 AM UTC-6, dpb wrote:

>=20
> Lew mistakes the _real_ reason to go into the bank isn't to do the=20
>=20
> routine business w/ a teller but to visit with the prez, catch up on the=
=20
>=20
> local "more businessy" news in town in factual context don't get at the=
=20
>=20
> coffee shop from the street, and otherwise connect w/ another=20
>=20
> significant portion of the community...again, this presupposes using the=
=20
>=20
> local bank with a local presence not the outside interloper chain that=20
>=20
> has no interest in the community other than what can ship back to main=20
>=20
> office from there.
>=20
>=20
>=20
> If self-employed it's even more critical to have the interaction in good=
=20
>=20
> times as well as calling in the bad.

OR... maybe Lew has the same situation I do. I have banked at the same ban=
k for over 30 years. People come and people go. I live in a town of about=
1.3 million when including the metro area, and San Antonio TX is usually #=
7 or #8 in population size in the US depending on the reporter.

YEARS ago I had the same bank officer for some time. But that all changed =
as did the way banking is done here in TX. We use the branch system, so wh=
ile you might be talking to a branch manager, so you light years away from =
talking to the "Prez" of the banking system. Some tiny state banks might s=
till have a president in the bank, but I doubt it.

And since a branch can be set up with a good computer link, a nice vault, a=
nd a tiny space inside to service customers that actually want to come in, =
bank branches are relatively inexpensive to open. So in my neck of the woo=
ds the expansion of all banks is ceaseless. They go through people rapidly=
, promoting those they like, training for different positions to increased =
their value to the bank, and then of course losing them due to the low wage=
s paid to the rank and file.

Since I have been with the same bank so long they actually assign a rep to =
my account. The rep usually lasts about 9 months to a year, sometimes long=
er, but is just a rep. Gone are the days of relationship banking where I c=
ould call my guy, get a few thousand put in my account and stop by later in=
the day to sign the papers. As it is, I am lucky they waive all fees and =
charges to the account. =20

Self employed for 30 years now, I don't see the need to go in the bank. It=
is a wasted of time to me to interface with people that will be gone in a =
few months when my banking requirements are so low these days. And I only g=
o by the bank a mile from my house when I am paid on a job and make a depos=
it on the way home, or to get some cash. Unless you are living in a rural e=
nvironment, the folks that work in the branch are pretty much just place ho=
lders. If you don't believe it, go in and ask your favorite guy (that you =
have known for years)for a $10,000 personal loan and see how long it takes =
to get it.

Although I am resentful of how little they pay to use my money, I like the =
new banking ways better. At least now I don't have to listen to someone pr=
etend that they give a crap about me or my company when I have to use bank =
services. They do as little as possible now and make no pretense about it.

Robert

=20

On 11/8/2013 12:05 PM, [email protected] wrote:

> OR... maybe Lew has the same situation I do. I have banked at the same bank for over 30 years. People come and people go. I live in a town of about 1.3 million when including the metro area, and San Antonio TX is usually #7 or #8 in population size in the US depending on the reporter.
>
> YEARS ago I had the same bank officer for some time. But that all changed as did the way banking is done here in TX. We use the branch system, so while you might be talking to a branch manager, so you light years away from talking to the "Prez" of the banking system. Some tiny state banks might still have a president in the bank, but I doubt it.
>
> And since a branch can be set up with a good computer link, a nice vault, and a tiny space inside to service customers that actually want to come in, bank branches are relatively inexpensive to open. So in my neck of the woods the expansion of all banks is ceaseless. They go through people rapidly, promoting those they like, training for different positions to increased their value to the bank, and then of course losing them due to the low wages paid to the rank and file.
>
> Since I have been with the same bank so long they actually assign a rep to my account. The rep usually lasts about 9 months to a year, sometimes longer, but is just a rep. Gone are the days of relationship banking where I could call my guy, get a few thousand put in my account and stop by later in the day to sign the papers. As it is, I am lucky they waive all fees and charges to the account.
>
> Self employed for 30 years now, I don't see the need to go in the bank. It is a wasted of time to me to interface with people that will be gone in a few months when my banking requirements are so low these days. And I only go by the bank a mile from my house when I am paid on a job and make a deposit on the way home, or to get some cash. Unless you are living in a rural environment, the folks that work in the branch are pretty much just place holders. If you don't believe it, go in and ask your favorite guy (that you have known for years)for a $10,000 personal loan and see how long it takes to get it.
>
> Although I am resentful of how little they pay to use my money, I like the new banking ways better. At least now I don't have to listen to someone pretend that they give a crap about me or my company when I have to use bank services. They do as little as possible now and make no pretense about it.

My sentiments exactly!

IME (and I do recall a time when this was not the case) it has been at
least 30 years since having a long term relationship with "your" banker
was in any way, shape or form, beneficial, or even possible, to a small
business.

--
eWoodShop: www.eWoodShop.com
Wood Shop: www.e-WoodShop.net
https://plus.google.com/114902129577517371552/posts
http://www.custommade.com/by/ewoodshop/
KarlCaillouet@ (the obvious)

On 11/8/2013 1:19 PM, dpb wrote:

> Sorry to hear it...it's still _the_ way here.

Good for you. It hasn't been that way in the urban jungles of Texas
since the bank shakeout in the mid to late 80's.

Enjoy it while you can.

--
eWoodShop: www.eWoodShop.com
Wood Shop: www.e-WoodShop.net
https://plus.google.com/114902129577517371552/posts
http://www.custommade.com/by/ewoodshop/
KarlCaillouet@ (the obvious)

On Fri, 8 Nov 2013 13:35:08 -0500, "Mike Marlow"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Swingman wrote:
>
>> It's a good thing, since the rare cash I ever get is apparently
>> considered by the other inmates as "our money", and quickly disappears
>> from my wallet. ;)
>
>Damn - you suffer that too? I was feeling sorry for myself, thinking I was
>alone in this dilema...

My wife never goes in my wallet, nor I in her purse (no man knows what
lurks...). We both have ATM cards. ;-)

On 11/6/2013 6:41 PM, [email protected] wrote:
> On Wed, 06 Nov 2013 15:23:03 -0600, dpb<[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> On 11/6/2013 12:23 PM, [email protected] wrote:
>> ...
>>
>>> Banks aren't in business to serve people, rather businesses. If you
>>> don't get "free" everything, find a different bank, or better, a CU.
>>
>> That certainly varies by bank. Some are very commercially oriented,
>> others, sorta' in between and yet others are very much interested in the
>> personal banking.
>
> Sure, it varies a lot by bank but people are not their purpose.
> They're "commercial banks". Credit unions are run by people for
> people (and yes, they vary a lot, too). Ours happens to be very good,
> so we've stuck with them for 40 years, over 20 of that living in a
> different state.
...

Nonsense.

CU's have their place certainly, but they're not _necessarily_ any
panacea, either. We dealt w/ a decent CU in TN, but the local bank here
is far better.

--

On 11/6/13, 7:55 PM, dpb wrote:
> On 11/6/2013 6:41 PM, [email protected] wrote:
>> On Wed, 06 Nov 2013 15:23:03 -0600, dpb<[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>> On 11/6/2013 12:23 PM, [email protected] wrote:
>>> ...
>>>
>>>> Banks aren't in business to serve people, rather businesses. If you
>>>> don't get "free" everything, find a different bank, or better, a CU.
>>>
>>> That certainly varies by bank. Some are very commercially oriented,
>>> others, sorta' in between and yet others are very much interested in the
>>> personal banking.
>>
>> Sure, it varies a lot by bank but people are not their purpose.
>> They're "commercial banks". Credit unions are run by people for
>> people (and yes, they vary a lot, too). Ours happens to be very good,
>> so we've stuck with them for 40 years, over 20 of that living in a
>> different state.
> ...
>
> Nonsense.
>
> CU's have their place certainly, but they're not _necessarily_ any
> panacea, either. We dealt w/ a decent CU in TN, but the local bank here
> is far better.
>
> --

We came from an Ohio credit union for more than a decade to a TN credit
union for more than a decade. We had a time between where we were with a
bank, a good bank that came highly recommended and had a great
reputation. They SUCKED!

Everything about the bank sucked compared to both CUs.
Lousy service, fees, lower interest rates, did I mention fees?

It's like going from riding the bus to a private limo.
We will never go back.


--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

On 11/6/2013 9:36 PM, -MIKE- wrote:
...

> We came from an Ohio credit union for more than a decade to a TN credit
> union for more than a decade. We had a time between where we were with a
> bank, a good bank that came highly recommended and had a great
> reputation. They SUCKED!
>
> Everything about the bank sucked compared to both CUs.
> Lousy service, fees, lower interest rates, did I mention fees?
...

Well, that may have been; we were w/ a TN CU for 25 yr 'til returned to
family farm in KS. The bank we're using here (local, independent) is
_far_ more friendly, serviceable and less expensive. The fees are less
than were paying the CU in TN.

OTOH, there's a branch of BOA here that has all the issues they're known
for nationally on a smaller scale--how they remain open is beyond my
ken, but for some reason they do. Inertia on most peoples' part I
suppose altho we took Mom's account from there shortly after
returning--the personal account was still there because it, too, had
been a local bank until having sold out some time ago and gone thru a
half-dozen or more transitions before finally the last group of which it
belonged was one that BOA bought out.

Again, it's all in the actual institution, not a generality.

--

Mike M wrote:
> On Tue, 5 Nov 2013 22:04:31 -0800, "Lew Hodgett"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>
>> "Mike M" wrote:
>>> Totally agree with you, I've never used ATM's wouldn't even know
>>> how,
>>> it's easier to just go inside.
>> -----------------------------------------------------
>> Interesting.
>>
>> Can't remember the last time I was in a bank.
>>
>> Standing in line for 15-20 minutes waiting to get to a teller comes
>> under the
>> heading of ridiculous in my book.
>>
>> Forget even thinking about going to a bank on a Friday.
>>
>> Lew
>>
> A lot depends on where you live. The nearest town to me has a
> population of 7100. Most of them all work in one of the big cities so
> it's pretty quiet during the week for those of us who choose not to
> work.
>

Likewise, though I'm no fan at all of BOA, in our local area, there is no
wait longer than a minute or two ifr you do go inside, but I never do for
normal transactions. Friday - open just like every other day.

Our experience with our credit union has not been any more spectacular than
our experience with any bank. I can't understaned what people are
experiencing with their credit unions that makes them so enamored by them.

--

-Mike-
[email protected]

On 11/7/2013 3:50 PM, Mike M wrote:
> On Tue, 5 Nov 2013 22:04:31 -0800, "Lew Hodgett"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>
>> "Mike M" wrote:
>>> Totally agree with you, I've never used ATM's wouldn't even know
>>> how,
>>> it's easier to just go inside.
>> -----------------------------------------------------
>> Interesting.
>>
>> Can't remember the last time I was in a bank.
>>
>> Standing in line for 15-20 minutes waiting to get to a teller comes
>> under the
>> heading of ridiculous in my book.
>>
>> Forget even thinking about going to a bank on a Friday.
>>
>> Lew
>>
> A lot depends on where you live. The nearest town to me has a
> population of 7100. Most of them all work in one of the big cities so
> it's pretty quiet during the week for those of us who choose not to
> work.

Lew mistakes the _real_ reason to go into the bank isn't to do the
routine business w/ a teller but to visit with the prez, catch up on the
local "more businessy" news in town in factual context don't get at the
coffee shop from the street, and otherwise connect w/ another
significant portion of the community...again, this presupposes using the
local bank with a local presence not the outside interloper chain that
has no interest in the community other than what can ship back to main
office from there.

If self-employed it's even more critical to have the interaction in good
times as well as calling in the bad.

--

On 11/8/2013 12:14 PM, Swingman wrote:
...

> IME (and I do recall a time when this was not the case) it has been at
> least 30 years since having a long term relationship with "your" banker
> was in any way, shape or form, beneficial, or even possible, to a small
> business.

Sorry to hear it...it's still _the_ way here. You've apparently lost
much if not mandatory in doing business at least in a personal life
experience/enrichment process of being able to do business in the
old-timey handshake fashion. Not all progress is really progress.

I've not (by choice) lived in a truly major metro area but have been in
areas w/ 1M+ in greater business area. Even there there were small but
nationally-chartered banks with which one could have such a relationship.

Here there's no pretense whatsoever--they _ARE_ interested and they
_ARE_ beneficial and it's worthwhile to keep in touch even though I've
known the president (and major stockholder) since we were kids...we're
neighbors as well as business partners and friends. His family also
owns ground we've farmed since within a year or two of my grandfathers'
having homesteaded the place (one year away from "century farm" status
this year).

--

On 11/8/2013 1:19 PM, dpb wrote:
...

> Sorry to hear it...it's still _the_ way here. You've apparently lost
> much if not mandatory in doing business at least in a personal life
> experience/enrichment process of being able to do business in the
> old-timey handshake fashion. Not all progress is really progress.
...

ADDENDUM:

While there is a lot more paperwork than in olden days owing to
Dodd-Frank and all the other crap been put on the banks, one prime
advantage of the personal relationship is that dealing with it is
essentially pro forma after the fact or just replicate and date to
satisfy the files instead of having to "do it all again"...

--

On 11/8/2013 2:24 PM, Lew Hodgett wrote:
...

> If I want to bullshit, I'll go to the boat yard.
...

There are many levels on which the bull session is valuable--different
folks are at different spots and the resulting "information" is for an
alternate universe depending...I partake of several from the sale barn to...

--

On 11/8/2013 4:36 PM, Swingman wrote:
> On 11/8/2013 1:19 PM, dpb wrote:
>
>> Sorry to hear it...it's still _the_ way here.
>
> Good for you. It hasn't been that way in the urban jungles of Texas
> since the bank shakeout in the mid to late 80's.
>
> Enjoy it while you can.

A quick search found several local, independent banks in the Houston
area so the model isn't _completely_ dead...even in TX urban blight. :)

--

On Tue, 5 Nov 2013 22:04:31 -0800, "Lew Hodgett"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
>"Mike M" wrote:
>> Totally agree with you, I've never used ATM's wouldn't even know
>> how,
>> it's easier to just go inside.
>-----------------------------------------------------
>Interesting.
>
>Can't remember the last time I was in a bank.
>
>Standing in line for 15-20 minutes waiting to get to a teller comes
>under the
>heading of ridiculous in my book.
>
>Forget even thinking about going to a bank on a Friday.
>
>Lew
>
A lot depends on where you live. The nearest town to me has a
population of 7100. Most of them all work in one of the big cities so
it's pretty quiet during the week for those of us who choose not to
work.

MikeM

On Wed, 06 Nov 2013 15:23:03 -0600, dpb <[email protected]> wrote:

>On 11/6/2013 12:23 PM, [email protected] wrote:
>...
>
>> Banks aren't in business to serve people, rather businesses. If you
>> don't get "free" everything, find a different bank, or better, a CU.
>
>That certainly varies by bank. Some are very commercially oriented,
>others, sorta' in between and yet others are very much interested in the
>personal banking.

Sure, it varies a lot by bank but people are not their purpose.
They're "commercial banks". Credit unions are run by people for
people (and yes, they vary a lot, too). Ours happens to be very good,
so we've stuck with them for 40 years, over 20 of that living in a
different state.

>How much of which tends to correlate with size and regionality of the
>operation altho even some of the very large have branches that
>concentrate on local/personal arenas.
>
>Best personal service if that is what one is looking for is quite likely
>going to be found with the local or smaller regional bank, not BOA or
>W-F or somesuch.

+1

OTOH, I have a CC with a megabank. I only have it for its cash-back.