I went to my Chase branch this morning to get some change for this yard sale we're having tomorrow. I had a couple of bills to break down and I wrote a check for twenty dollars cash I wanted to get back in ones.
Well here's where the teller and I went afoul. My driver's license and my checking account don't have the same name on them; I've not changed my bank account since Steve and I married last year. I know, I know. Procrastination on my part.
The teller would not cash my twenty dollar check. She asked for alternate ID that had my former name on it. I gave her my school ID which has the old name and a picture. I gave her credit cards. I even gave her my marriage license!!!! She would not cash my check. When I gave her the marriage license to prove I'm the same person, she said, "Oh, you have to take that to a banker and do the paperwork."
Okay. I understand rules. I understand identity theft is a problem. I understand there are criminals in this world. I know I should have changed the name on my checking account already. But do we have no common sense anymore? We're talking about a twenty dollar check on my own account in my own branch of my own bank and I have scads of ID as well as a legal document showing the name change.
The teller wanted me to go outside, drive through the ATM, withdraw the twenty, and bring it back inside for her to break down for me. OR, I could sit in line behind the five people already in line and wait for a "banker" to do the paperwork to change over my name, get back in her line, and cash my check.
I tried to drive through the ATM. It was broken and a technician was repairing it.
So, Obama was right, and not right. That ATM might put the teller with no logical common sense out of a job, but it'll keep that technician busy.
