I just posted on another thread about starting a topic so I'll do this one which has bothered me for a time: Lack of privacy at the bank. If I get cash, there are people standing right behind you who can hear the teller counting it out and some tellers are a lot quieter than others. I wish the people in line stood further back or there was a glass partition. If I get a few hundred dollars (I usually shop all with cash) when I leave the bank I'm slightly paranoid someone knows I have cash on me. Anyone else notice this? Thoughts?
At my bank, you have to stand way back and wait til the customer is finished and then the teller says "next". It's the same at the pharmacy but people do talk loudly enough so I guess I can hear what's going on sometimes. I bank at chase but most banks that I've been in have the line that starts way back from the window.
I use the ATM at our bank quite a bit. Mostly downtown and the branch by the house. Sometimes I'll grab some cash downtown before the bank opens and I have to use my ATM card to unlock the door to use the ATM. The other morning, I was at the machine and a guy tapped on the window motioning to the door. I motioned to the place for him to place his card and gain entry. He wasn't happy, and gave me a very unkind gesture! I Smiled and gave him a wave. The whole place is glass and I watched him cross the street before I exited the bank. It is still better than an ATM outside in the open.
Our banks also have the stand back type of queue where the next person is not directly behind you, they're about 6 feet away behind a wooden half wall... although they can still see and hear the transaction if the teller or the customer speaks loudly enough but at least you have the option to talk quieter and not be overheard so much by the queue ... however it's still obvious if you're withdrawing money over the counter because everyone can see it being counted out and where you put it in your bag or pocket. Some of our bank tellers are behind bullet proof glass counters others are totally without any protection at all..open office desks.. , but I get where you're coming from @kitty , it does make me very wary as to who is watching me whenever I withdraw cash from over the counter or from the ATM..
Same at my bank....next in liners are back a bit. Plus tellers usually count the money back quietly and do not hold cash up where others can see. However, don't think I would fret much about leaving with cash on me.
We basically don't pay with cash for anything. We use our bank card or a credit card. All bills are paid by check. At our bank, people do stand in line back from people dealing with Tellers, but anybody in line could see, and hear, transactions that go on. Anybody in line can see when the Teller gives a customer cash. As for cash on us, we may have $10, but that's it. Only time we have a higher amount of cash ($100 each) on us is when we are going to a casino. At the casino, I put my wallet in my front pocket and my wife puts her small change purse in her front pocket as well. We never use an ATM outside at night........period. Some banks, I think anyway, still have a Security Guard to enforce certain bank policies. Only thing is, some people won't listen to what a "Rent-A-Cop" (what some call them). They aren't armed and generally an old man.
That was a weird encounter Tim. At my bank the line forms, no partition and the teller directly in front of the line is usually open and the first person is only about 3 feet away. Still wishing it was more private.
We use a credit union with a great set up. When you enter the bank you give your name to the receptionist. You can sit down in the lounge area, the wait is generally less than 5 minutes and the teller comes out to call you and you go into a private cubicle to do your business.
A lot of banks now have a line where people are supposed to stop to await an available teller, and I've noticed that this line has recently become further away from the tellers. Years ago, I can remember that the person waiting in line behind would be directly behind me while I was doing my banking, and that bothered me. Like @Missy Lee, we have one bank that uses a waiting area too, and that's nice. I'm not so concerned with the privacy thing because I almost never go inside of a bank anymore, but being able to sit down while waiting would be nice. I am likely to know anyone who is in the bank with me anyhow.
We have a little sitting area too and there's even coffee there but nobody uses it...everybody stands in the line...it's never that long but I always go everywhere early and am usually first everywhere.