So I was doing the normal Satureday run-around and everything was fine until I got to the bank to deposit my last unemployment check, cash a pet-sitting check and pay the house payment. The bank was closed. There was a sign up that said they closed on 5 PM Friday and wouldn't re-open until Tuesday. There weren't any signs like that up last Saturday when we were at the bank (WS can't get direct deposit from his work).
Our bank has merged with another bank (no big names - just local banks) and apparently needed to do some upgrades. That is all well and good, but some warning would be nice. Fortunately I had the housepayment coupon and the check written out to pay it in an envelope. So, I put it in the night deposite box (it is due on the 1st, so mailing it would be no good - not to mention that the envelope they sent with the coupon was for the old payment address, not the new one). I went back around the bank so I could get to the ATM to withdraw funds, since the $5 I had wasn't going to pay for breakfast. Then, I went back to the house to get another envelope so that I could place the checks that needed to be deposited in the night deposit box.
I'm not sure this merger is going to be a happy experience for us. I just got a new ATM card (and new PIN)in April with the old name on it, and they sent me a new card (and new PIN), with the new name on it Friday. The directions say that I can activate it at an ATM. But, the sticker on the card says that I have to call in to activate it any time between 9 AM May 27 and 5 PM May 28th. AND it also says to destroy the old card on May 28. Hmm, Friday was May 28 and I didn't get home until way after 5PM. So what to do? Did that mean my old card would be worthless after the 28th even if I didn't activate my new card? Fortunately my old ATM card still worked, so there was a happy ending and I got my breakfast.
Oh, another aggravation with the bank happened the other day. I stopped at the branch in Weare, which is just off the route that I take home, and found that it had been closed. No warning or anything, it just isn't there any more and the building is for rent. At least I could perform my transaction on-line at that time.
Hopefully they will get their stuff together before I become really irritated!
That type of thing bugs the HECK out of me! A bank should be more responsible than that, and its clients deserved warning via mail, and posted at the bank, that there would be changes that might interfer with regular banking. You're lucky that you were able to get to the night deposit and make timely payments.
Posted by: Buffy | May 30, 2004 at 05:06 PM
I'm just glad that the 1st lands on Tuesday and not on Monday - the 1st is when the house payment is due.
Posted by: bogie | May 31, 2004 at 09:18 AM