Big Brother is Watching
CharlesDarwin
Posts: 285 ✭
Today, while out making a massive $2 bill search for 1976 $2 Minneapolis Star Notes and other $2 rarities (as well as 50c rolls, when I could get them), I was stopped at a bank, midway though the day.
Not long after putting in a request a man came up to me and said, "You've been in 2 of our other branches today. With $2 bills."
I said, "Yes." I had been in two smaller branches previously, with no harassment.
He questions, "What are you doing with all those $2s?." Having over $600 in $2 bills in my briefcase, I honestly answered, "I'm a collector, I buy large amounts and search for rarities and old bills."
Unfazed by my truthful and harmless practice, he says "Well, we don't like to do that around here, so I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
And that was that. I left.
Apparently, it's a crime in his country to trade legal tender for other legal tender. What I want to know, is how and why I was flagged, noticed, then stopped. It creeps me out that banks are vigilant to that extent.
Unfortunately, I was not an account holder at that particular bank, so there wasn't much I could do. Nonetheless, I was pretty put off by this "helpful, friendly home town bank" that claims to act in the local custumers interest.
Is it a criminal offense to make multiple transactions, trading legal tender for legal tender?
Fortunately, I did manage to get 4 red seal notes from the offending bank earlier in the day. One of which was a 1928G. As well, I found 19 40% silver Kennedys and 3 Franklins, so the whole day was not lost.
Damn George Bush and 9/11 for creating an unnecessarily paranoid state. Get that man out of office.
Sorry for the not purely numismatic content, but I thought you would all enjoy a good bank story.
Not long after putting in a request a man came up to me and said, "You've been in 2 of our other branches today. With $2 bills."
I said, "Yes." I had been in two smaller branches previously, with no harassment.
He questions, "What are you doing with all those $2s?." Having over $600 in $2 bills in my briefcase, I honestly answered, "I'm a collector, I buy large amounts and search for rarities and old bills."
Unfazed by my truthful and harmless practice, he says "Well, we don't like to do that around here, so I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
And that was that. I left.
Apparently, it's a crime in his country to trade legal tender for other legal tender. What I want to know, is how and why I was flagged, noticed, then stopped. It creeps me out that banks are vigilant to that extent.
Unfortunately, I was not an account holder at that particular bank, so there wasn't much I could do. Nonetheless, I was pretty put off by this "helpful, friendly home town bank" that claims to act in the local custumers interest.
Is it a criminal offense to make multiple transactions, trading legal tender for legal tender?
Fortunately, I did manage to get 4 red seal notes from the offending bank earlier in the day. One of which was a 1928G. As well, I found 19 40% silver Kennedys and 3 Franklins, so the whole day was not lost.
Damn George Bush and 9/11 for creating an unnecessarily paranoid state. Get that man out of office.
Sorry for the not purely numismatic content, but I thought you would all enjoy a good bank story.
to live outside the law, you must be honest ---- bd
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Comments
Could it be as simple as he doesn't want to pay his employees to perform transactions for non-customers?
You did nothing wrong, of course, but maybe that's all there is to it.
New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.
Cameron Kiefer
<< <i>Damn George Bush and 9/11 for creating an unnecessarily paranoid state. Get that man out of office. >>
Yeah, it's Bush's fault.
<< <i>What I want to know, is how and why I was flagged, noticed, then stopped. >>
Do you look like a slimeball?
Rus, NCNE
Possibly I'm missing something in your story, but where does the manager accuse you of commiting a crime? He simply states, "We don't do that here. I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
Was how he handled your sitsuation necessary? Probably not. But, it is a business and you stated you're not a member of that bank. Asking them to spend time servicing your requests is really beyond the scope of their obligations.
peacockcoins
Positive BST as a seller: Namvet69, Lordmarcovan, Bigjpst, Soldi, mustanggt, CoinHoader, moursund, SufinxHi, al410, JWP
Ooops, wrong guy.
While I dont think that Bush is the issue, this is a collector topic that can be addressed here and is certainly more on topic than 30% of the stuff posted.
siliconvalleycoins.com
<< <i>I could not seeing the being against the law. >>
Agreed.
<< <i> It is your right as a citizen to go to the bank and exchange money. >>
Don't think so.
New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.
<< <i>It is your right as a citizen to go to the bank and exchange money. >>
Good one.
Russ, NCNE
Positive BST as a seller: Namvet69, Lordmarcovan, Bigjpst, Soldi, mustanggt, CoinHoader, moursund, SufinxHi, al410, JWP
When we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember that virtue is not hereditary.
Thomas Paine
Jim
<< <i>I honestly believe that if W gets re-elected, the commielibs are going to go over the edge. They might want to rething their position on gun control before they do. >>
What the devil does gun control have to do with going bank to bank casing the joints?
In a way though I don't blame the bank for giving you are hard time. Were you paying them anything for exchanging this $600 in notes for other notes of a similar ilk, time after time? Since I image that you were not, I'd say that you are being a pain in the butt for them.
As you your Bush slam, I agree with the others.
The best way to unload stuff like that is to get a teller you know. I call it the befriend a teller program. Find a teller usually females in their late 40's early 50's and start talking to them about your hobby. More often then not they are so interested in your hobby that they will pull "good stuff" aside for you and usually have no problem taking back large amounts of money (such as $600 worth of $2 bills). IF you are going to bank jump tho... get savings accounts at all those banks. Usually 40 bucks in a savings account is all it takes and the rewards can be soooo much greater. I have had savings accounts at banks just for that purpose. It often comes in handy if yo live in a populated city where you have a choice of banks and you can go around to 10 a day really easily.
my .02
-Greg
E-mail GRU Coins
and it would be hard to argue that dopositing cash really drives up a bank's operating costs.
I agree, the same as it's hard for me to believe that ATM's drive up operating costs.
Looking for PCGS AU58 Washington's, 32-63.
I agree with Gregthegreat. I befriended a bank teller at the local bank and she passed onto me a roll of Mercury dimes which someone turned in for face value; she also called me if I were interested in a $500 and $1,000 bill at face value ! ( You betcha ! ). That was about ten years ago, and she left the bank shortly after these transactions.
I miss that gal !
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
New Barber Purchases
<< <i>I agree, the same as it's hard for me to believe that ATM's drive up operating costs. >>
I think that ATMs actually LOWER a bank's operating costs. Some years ago one of the big New York City banks tried to force all of their small customers to bank via their ATMs. If you wanted to talk to a teller, they were going to charge you. Before the policy got off the ground the news media got wind of it and gave the bank a big black eye, which prompted them to back off.
This was only the 2nd time in three months I've been in this bank.
I was BUYING $2 bills from the bank, which usually they're esctatic to do, since $2s don't move.
And the guy didn't know I WASN'T an account holder. He never asked, and I never told.
All of the other banks and tellers that I visit are either happy, glad, and interested OR could care less. Usuallly, they're happy to help out, even if I i'm not an account holder.
SO, it really threw me off when I was treated this way.
I can understand if a bank doesn't want hundreds of dollars of fairly unusable currency deposited in their bank, so I buy them up from banks that I don't have accounts in, then depoist them in MY MAIN bank account when I'm finished.
As for the Bush slam. I had to: I can't stand him, he deserves everything and more.
Russ: I happen to no look like a slimeball. I was clean cut and shaven, wearing clean khakis and a gray dress shirt. So, hardly my appearance threw them off.
<< <i>As for the Bush slam. I had to: I can't stand him, he deserves everything and more. >>
Don't like him? Don't vote for him. But he only deserves what he's responsible for, and this ain't one of them. This has gone on in banks for a long, long time and has nothing to do with the person in the White House. Funny how bank management doesn't like their tellers spending a lot of time on transactions that make them no money, with people who aren't their customers. Go figure.
It's no big deal to befriend a teller. I do it all the time.
It does help to have an account. Nothing much. A small savings.
Talk about your hobby, when dealing with "your" teller.
I will wait for my teller. I let people go ahead of me, when necessary.
I have gotten great support from my teller's. One of my favorite bank gals is Chinese. I learned that her mother was born on Taiwan.
I recently gave her a Chinese Commemorative silver $1, that I picked up on eBay for $2.82 (+postage). Needless to say, when I see her, she always has a bunch of old silver Frankie's, Kennedy's, and the odd Ike, put aside for me. Makes me feel like a big shot!
Ahhh, heck, I am just an old, retired sailor, and these are my thoughts on the subject.. (have 'nuther beer, Jerry)...
I KNOW full well, that banks don't want their tellers spending time on non customers. But they didn't know I WASN'T! As well, most banks are friendly about it. So this was a surprise.
It's a local bank only in my area, so you folks don't need to worry about it.
K S
<< <i>Damn George Bush and 9/11 for creating an unnecessarily paranoid state. >>
What have you been smoking? George Bush didn't cause 9/11. That Osama guy is to blame.
Mike
There shouldn't have been a problem at all with this. That guy was just being an A$$. Power trip would be a better word, Lots of folks are like this nowadays. I would have least questioned why, your not doing anything wrong and if they don't like tying up there tellers then I would have suggested that they put a sign out front stating that anyone over 70 with a change purse is not permitted.
I rememeber about 2 months ago I went to a bank(that I didn't have an account with) and got 200.00 worth of Halves. I had 4 tellers scrambling to empty out there cash drawers and they even went to the vault to grab some. LOL After I went through them all I went to my bank I have an account with and deposited them. LOL I did that several times, but this instance was the largest amount.
PURPLE!
Well, I'm impressed with the bank's intel program, given that the person did not have an account and therefore left no electronic trail.
I admit I would not expect a bank to recognize me, if I had been to two other branches around town.
And to have a problem with someone taking $2 bills AWAY???? That guy must be a vest-pocket dealer who felt you were stealing HIS stuff.
<< <i>Damn George Bush and 9/11 for creating an unnecessarily paranoid state. >>
Unnecessarily Paranoid state, They knocked down the world trade center, blew up the Cole and countless embasies, ect.
VOTE BUSH
a normal bank does not treat customers or potential customers with such disrespect. This
would normally apply to all people regardless of their appearance. I would have stated in
a loud voice that I'd prefer to speak to this man's boss before I left. If he refused I'd politely
ask his name and leave. If his boss gave me no satisfaction or apology I'd be shouting the
bank name from the rooftops.
It's one thing to politely refuse someone service but an entirely different thing to ask some-
one to leave.
It's also more than a little strange that this guy knew you'd been at other branches. It
sounds like he may be a somewhat officious security officer who was grossly overstepping
his authority.
By mid-1964 the pickings had become so slim that it was no longer worth the effort. The roll and bag boom had peaked in May of 1964 and the coin market was in a nosedive anyway.
Jerry
Tyler
Send a letter to the CEO of the Bank and tell him/her how outraged you are and how you are tempted to never do business with the bank again and to tell all your friends.
">"http://www.cashcrate.com/5663377"
Now for the remarks, all banks are cautious and paranoid and have always been that way with modern security.
As for you, are you a product of natural selection or selective inbreeding?
NEVER LET HIPPO MOUTH OVERLOAD HUMMINGBIRD BUTT!!!
WORK HARDER!!!!
Millions on WELFARE depend on you!
">"http://www.cashcrate.com/5663377"
Text
There's the reason right there. You looked too good to be real, man!
<< <i>It's also more than a little strange that this guy knew you'd been at other branches. >>
Has anyone heard of robbery!!!!
If this was my bank I would be glad that the security was that good.
Oh, And Michael Moore is fat.
~I'm ready, I'm ready~
This thread has taken more twists and turns than Justin Timberlake dancing at a Super Bowl half time show.
Too many points to make so let me just add, it's creepy that you would be singled out visiting 2 other branches. Doesn't security have anything else to do? Like stopping identity theft when someone hacks their servers? You answered his questions straight forward and he gave you a nasty reply, write to his boss. Totally unjustified. They should be happy they are unloading 2s.
A year ago I bought a box of halves, $500, and the nosy teller asked what I was going to do with them. I almost said target practice but just shrugged and said spend them for good luck. Same branch, different teller, while visiting my coins the friendly teller thought she would pull out my box. I told it was heavy and she said no no I can handle it and would have dropped it if I did not have a hand under and one on the side. A little annoyed she asked "what's in there it's so heavy'? I said nothing as I walked away and she again asked what was in there. Without looking back I said "dentures"! She now let's me take out the box.
There is a difference between security and privacy!
I love how you blame Bush. Maybe Bush hired those guys to run into the Trade Towers!
President, Racine Numismatic Society 2013-2014; Variety Resource Dimes; See 6/8/12 CDN for my article on Winged Liberty Dimes; Ebay
<< <i>Doesn't security have anything else to do? Like stopping identity theft when someone hacks their servers? >>
Tell me... how often do you hear about banks getting their servers hacked into? Banks take extreme precautions when it comes to the security of the servers. There is very limited access to the network from the internet. My dad works in the IT department at a Bank
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