Banks, Who Needs 'em?

That is until the banks figure a way to charge a fee. My blog friend Terri had an incident trying to cash a US Postal Service money order that she received. Her bank wouldn't take it. You have to ask yourself, if they won't take a money order from the US government, who's will they take? The answer is either no one's or someone who pays them to do so. This is why I don't deal with banks. Even if you are their customer, they treat you like crap, unless you are paying them a fee. I'm reminded of a vacation we took with the two younger Sneed sons, back in the early nineties. We left D.C. driving to Rhode Island to visit Mrs. Sneed's aunt and uncle. Somewhere in Maryland we stopped for lunch and I found that all I had by way of payment was a one hundred dollar American Express Traveler's Check. Even in 1991 or 1992, many restaurants didn't accept credit cards and I thought, probably because I am a hick, that they wouldn't take a one hundred dollar traveler's check either. Luckily, there was a bank next door. If fgured worst case I would have to pay a fee to cash the check. I went into the bank and was promptly informed that they didn't take traveler's check, except for the ones they issue. Think about that for a minute. I asked why anyone would buy a traveler's check from them and then try to cash it at their bank? Isn't (wasn't) the purpose of a traveler's check to use for travel? Karl Malden certainly thought so, and how can you argue with Karl Malden? If everyone had their attitude many people would be forced to stay home. Why would they expect other places to honor their checks if they wouldn't do the same? All really good questions to my point of view. The manager told me that our business was complete. Luckily, the restaurant had no problem with American Express and it turned out fine. This is what the bastards do, though. They charge out the wazoo for everything and when you need them most, they let you down. Merle Wayne Sneed deals with a credit union. I like the fact that when I show up, the lady at the reception desk knows who I am. I have free bill pay, free ATM use, free online banking and I pay $8.00 a month for checking. If I need a certified check, it's free. Terri fears that we are moving to faceless, impersonal banking. Only if you deal with a place that is focused on making a profit. Everyone has the right to make a profit, but it comes with a price. Things in this blog represented to be fact, may or may not actually be true. The writer is frequently wrong, sometimes just full of it, but always judgmental and cranky