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 | Banking
Columnist:
Ron Howes
ron@doingbiz.biz
Banking
not as I remember it.
I spent most of my adult life in the banking
business, until leaving it 12 years ago to start and run our software and
internet businesses. I'd been president of a couple of banks, but suddenly, I
was on the outside looking in. After years of comfortably sitting at that nice
desk, in that nice office, I was now just another guy standing in line to make a
deposit, apply for a loan, or get my parking ticket validated.
Fortunately,
my business did pretty well, and I survived. And, I now know a lot more about
being a customer than I did when I was in banking. Back then, I thought the
customers loved me and the bank, and they were happy. I think I was wrong.
Sometimes,
it is the little things.
Recently, my bank pension kicked-in. I'd been
with one bank long enough to actually qualify for something. (Bankers move
around, as you may have noticed.) So, I went down to the local branch and
opened an account, so they could deposit the pension automatically. The check
was so little, I worried it might get lost on the way to my house. When I asked
about getting an ATM card, the lady said "Your account has to be open for 6
months before we give you one of those". I'm a retired employee of that
bank, so if all goes well, I'll get my card as soon as those 6 months are up.
I
stop down at that bank now and then to make a deposit, or cash a check. I
started to notice they had to look up my account every time to see if I have
any money. As a young teller, I was taught to remember my customers,
especially those that could cover a $20 check.
Don't believe me,
ask my dog.
I usually go to their auto bank, and my cocker spaniel "Nuggie"
likes to come along and get a dog biscuit. Lately, I've started to worry about
how the bank is doing, because the dog biscuits are getting smaller. Last week,
my dog looked at the one-inch biscuit, looked up at me, back at the biscuit,
and I could tell she was thinking about changing banks.
|
To be continued. |
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