Opening bank accounts - do they want our money or not?

[Chris S]

[QUOTE 4500438, member: 45"]
It's rubbish. Not like the olden days.[/QUOTE]

I am old enough to remember when banks were open from 9 o'clock to half past three, Monday to Friday.
There weren't any ATMs either. My wages were paid directly into the bank and there weren't any branches near where I worked. I had to take half-days off just to get my money.

 

[Tin Pot]

His defence of "I'm thick" would have been believable to any jury member with a knowledge of (ex) footballers, regardless of which team they support.

They have been thieves and fraudsters their entire careers. They just don't care about the law.

 

[Tin Pot]

I am old enough to remember when banks were open from 9 o'clock to half past three, Monday to Friday.
There weren't any ATMs either. My wages were paid directly into the bank and there weren't any branches near where I worked. I had to take half-days off just to get my money.

Did you also have to wear a Stetson and carry a six shooter, in those days?

 

[swee'pea99]

Did you also have to wear a Stetson and carry a six shooter, in those days?

Optional. But the only way to get cash was to go and wait in line, then write a cheque made out to 'Cash'. They'd check it over, look you up & down, and if they thought you looked sort of respectable, they'd ask you how you wanted that...

 

[SWSteve]

If you want a cash card with low limits, The Co-op start the limit at £10 a day for 11 year olds and it goes up very slowly until 16.

FWIW, my experience suggests Saturday appointments will be saved for 'good' appointments, I.e. Credit cards, loans, switches - if you're not one of these you may struggle (sorry).

 

[ColinJ]

I changed bank branches when I moved house last year. They wanted to see my passport and a utility bill.

The woman at the bank commented that a large sum of money had just been paid in. I explained that I had just sold my house.

I had started renting one of my sister's properties. She asked if could pay a year up front so that she could spend the money on essential repairs. I had the money from my house sale so I agreed to do that. I went back in to the bank and was seen by the same woman that I had spoken to a few days earlier. I asked to do a bank transfer to my sister. The woman asked what the money was for. I felt like saying 'mind your own damn business' but realised that it was a big enough sum of money to potentially raise concern so I explained about the advance rent. She asked me to get a receipt from my sister and to bring it in to show them.

A friend of mine had died and left me several thousand pounds. A few days after my previous visit to the bank, I received a cheque from the solicitors representing his estate so I went back into the bank to pay it in to my account. Once again, I was dealt with by the same woman. She slid her glasses down to the end of her nose and gave me a 'make the money launderer squirm' look! ... "I will need documentation to prove that!" Ha - did she think that I was born yesterday ... I whipped out the cover letter from the solicitors and handed it over!

So, in my recent experience, banks definitely ARE being a lot more careful in keeping an eye on movements of significant sums of money.

 

[Starchivore]

I had started renting one of my sister's properties. She asked if could pay a year up front so that she could spend the money on essential repairs. I had the money from my house sale so I agreed to do that. I went back in to the bank and was seen by the same woman that I had spoken to a few days earlier. I asked to do a bank transfer to my sister. The woman asked what the money was for. I felt like saying 'mind your own damn business' but realised that it was a big enough sum of money to potentially raise concern so I explained about the advance rent. She asked me to get a receipt from my sister and to bring it in to show them.

Blimey I didn't know they did that. Seems a bit of a cheek, having to show them something so that you can spend your own money.

 

[Starchivore]

I am old enough to remember when banks were open from 9 o'clock to half past three, Monday to Friday.
There weren't any ATMs either. My wages were paid directly into the bank and there weren't any branches near where I worked. I had to take half-days off just to get my money.

I was born in 1993 so this is really fascinating to me. How often did you go to get money? You must have taken out a lot each time?

 

[Chris S]

I was born in 1993 so this is really fascinating to me. How often did you go to get money? You must have taken out a lot each time?

This was in the early 1980s. After the first few weeks I asked to be paid in cash - like almost everybody else.

 

[Chris S]

Did you also have to wear a Stetson and carry a six shooter, in those days?

No - just a mullet and white socks.

 

[cd365]

I am old enough to remember when banks were open from 9 o'clock to half past three, Monday to Friday.
There weren't any ATMs either. My wages were paid directly into the bank and there weren't any branches near where I worked. I had to take half-days off just to get my money.

When I started work in banking they were my branches hours, we were paid till 5 but often worked till 6 or later! For no overtime, how stupid was I?!!!

 

[PeteXXX]

Would a Post Office account be easier to open?
I'm sure you/they'll still need proof of address and some I'd though.

 

[mjr]

This was in the early 1980s. After the first few weeks I asked to be paid in cash - like almost everybody else.

Could have had a girobank account operated through the post office, which had slightly saner opening hours (Saturday mornings IIRC, at least in towns and larger villages). Girobank, TSB and the Co-op, public and civil sector pioneers in opening up banking services to mere mortals, all since sold off and/or screwed over by government.

[QUOTE 4500467, member: 9609"]some people were even opening accounts for their dogs in Monaco[/QUOTE]
Well, their dogs needed expensive medical treatments in Spain, so they needed some savings!

 

[Tin Pot]

I changed bank branches when I moved house last year. They wanted to see my passport and a utility bill.

The woman at the bank commented that a large sum of money had just been paid in. I explained that I had just sold my house.

I had started renting one of my sister's properties. She asked if could pay a year up front so that she could spend the money on essential repairs. I had the money from my house sale so I agreed to do that. I went back in to the bank and was seen by the same woman that I had spoken to a few days earlier. I asked to do a bank transfer to my sister. The woman asked what the money was for. I felt like saying 'mind your own damn business' but realised that it was a big enough sum of money to potentially raise concern so I explained about the advance rent. She asked me to get a receipt from my sister and to bring it in to show them.

A friend of mine had died and left me several thousand pounds. A few days after my previous visit to the bank, I received a cheque from the solicitors representing his estate so I went back into the bank to pay it in to my account. Once again, I was dealt with by the same woman. She slid her glasses down to the end of her nose and gave me a 'make the money launderer squirm' look! ... "I will need documentation to prove that!" Ha - did she think that I was born yesterday ... I whipped out the cover letter from the solicitors and handed it over!

So, in my recent experience, banks definitely ARE being a lot more careful in keeping an eye on movements of significant sums of money.

Pah. A likely story sir...

KYC and all that, it's good for something I'm sure.

 

[Tin Pot]

No - just a mullet and white socks.

<screams>
<dies>