I understand "bulletproof windows" but THIS!?!?!

[Guest jackdm3]

Today, I went to a branch of my bank that I've never been to before. You know what to expect when you go in, right. Some desks to the left and/or right. A counter with windows numbering 4 or 5 or 6. Some tellers in the background taking care of the drive-thru customers. We've officially entered Orwell's 1984 down here in M-Block.

On this day, windows 1,2, and 3 were open, but not 4 and 5. You walk in to any "open" window, fill out your transaction slip and put it, and money if you're depositing, into the magical chute canister. It goes bye-bye and you wait. And you wait for some sign that it's not gone forever. While you wait, the screen in front of you shows your face under the worst of lighting. When they talk to you, the teller appears on-screen to ask if there will be anything else. You just wanna ask, "Are you a real person?" because you know that's the next step in dehumanizing ourselves. The guy next to me waited a long time to make a simple deposit. That meant I was gonna wait long, as well. We were the only ones, and the service was slow as mo-lass-es. When I took the pic, I half expected the shotguns to arrive, if not that defective robot at the beginning of Robocop. Granny was in the truck with all two of my ballcaps and I showed her the pics. "They let you take a picture of the place?" I'm thinking there's gonna be A LOT of cameras getting this one.

Edited September 22, 2010 by jackdm3

[Guest TargetShooter84]

Wow....i'm just surprised....

[Guest monsterking138]

One of the branches of my bank has had that since before i started going their. about 8 years now.

[Guest db99wj]

Where?

[TGO David]

Jack, if you worked at a place where there was a seriously higher than average chance that you'd be robbed every single day and possible injured or killed in the process, would you be bitching about security measures like this or would you be infinitely relieved that you might have good odds of making it home alive each night?

I mean... seriously... boo hoo. Don't like it, bank somewhere else. REALLY don't like it, move somewhere else. REALLY REALLY REALLY don't like it, vote the ******* Ford family and their ilk out of every possible office in Memphis and change your town.

[Links2k]

I rarely go inside of a bank. I have been doing the direct deposit since my old army days.

[Guest jackdm3]

It's at a MATCU in a "better" part of town on Hacks Cross in South Germantown. It's the first of its kind that we know of for Memphis metro area. Didn't even know it was there till we went to eat out near the nursing home. The ones I frequent are wide open with no guards. Never understood that part.

[Guest jackdm3]

I rarely go inside of a bank. I have been doing the direct deposit since my old army days.

I take customers' check to their respective banks to cash, if convenient. I won't involve my bank and myself with rubbercheck transactions.

[xd shooter]

The bank I deal with in Murfreesboro has gone to this also.

[Guest Glock23ForMe]

The bank I deal with in Murfreesboro has gone to this also.

What bank in the Boro.

I see a time with no tellers, sadly, due to the new ATM's being able to do everything a teller can, including deposits, checks, withdrawals. The only reason you will need a teller, maybe, is for a loan.

[Guest monsterking138]

the one i go to in the boro is ascend fcu on church st. the drive through does not have a window either.

[xd shooter]

the one i go to in the boro is ascend fcu on church st. the drive through does not have a window either.

We have a Winner!!

[Mike.357]

What bank in the Boro.

I see a time with no tellers, sadly, due to the new ATM's being able to do everything a teller can, including deposits, checks, withdrawals. The only reason you will need a teller, maybe, is for a loan.

if you make a deposit through an ATM your account being credited will be delayed. They only process those machines a couple of times a day. Teller's don't make loans.

[Guest Daelith]

I had some friends visiting from England a couple of years ago and I had to run into the bank to get some cash. They tagged along with me and were absolutely floored that the tellers were not behind bulletproof glass or other protective measures. Guess we're just now starting to catch up with Europe on such things.

[LagerHead]

Jack, if you worked at a place where there was a seriously higher than average chance that you'd be robbed every single day and possible injured or killed in the process, would you be bitching about security measures like this or would you be infinitely relieved that you might have good odds of making it home alive each night?

I mean... seriously... boo hoo. Don't like it, bank somewhere else. REALLY don't like it, move somewhere else. REALLY REALLY REALLY don't like it, vote the ******* Ford family and their ilk out of every possible office in Memphis and change your town.

Amen to that. And just imagine how much fun it would be to give the "You're #1" sign language to a prospective robber.

[dunndw]

if you make a deposit through an ATM your account being credited will be delayed. They only process those machines a couple of times a day. Teller's don't make loans.

Not always. The much hated Reigons Bank new ATMs will credit your deposits same day until 6pm...drive thru windows cut of f@ 4.

[Guest Glock23ForMe]

Teller's don't make loans.

Yeah, I know that... It's just that that a "Loan Officer" () could be the only living person you will see in a branch, other than the manager and the guy to keep the machines running...

[Guest Sgt. Joe]

Wow and I thought my CU had gone big time when they finally took my pic the first of the month so that now every time the account # comes up my mug will be on the screen.

I go in the place most of the time and do enjoy the the human interaction and first name basis but you got to figure with a set up like in the OP they will be much better protected and save some almighty bucks in the long run. Such a set up will one day soon probably be the norm.

I saw something about some banks in Europe a few weeks ago where they had a double bulletproof, auto locking doors setup. The second set of doors would not open until the first had completely closed so that on exit after a robbery the tellers hit a button preventing the outer doors from opening and the BG's would end up stuck in between the two bulletproof doors and could not go anywhere. Now that was pretty cool.

I would almost be afraid of a set up like in the OP......What are you going to do if the machine takes your stuff and somehow screws it up? How are you going to complain? It seems you could stand there for hours and have no one to listen to you.:tinfoil:

And just how is guy supposed to flirt with the tellers? Which is the main reason I go in to begin with.

[Guest 70below]

I personally prefer customer service dealing with a person directly. For that reason I avoid the "U-scan" checkouts at the supermarket. I dislike it a great deal when they try to get you to use them even when you're standing in another line.

I'd rather support a cashier and bagger, and enjoy the customer service rather than wait every other item for someone to override an item I'm trying to purchase and doesn't ring up correctly.

[Guest jackdm3]

Wow and I thought my CU had gone big time when they finally took my pic the first of the month so that now every time the account # comes up my mug will be on the screen.

I go in the place most of the time and do enjoy the the human interaction and first name basis but you got to figure with a set up like in the OP they will be much better protected and save some almighty bucks in the long run. Such a set up will one day soon probably be the norm.

I saw something about some banks in Europe a few weeks ago where they had a double bulletproof, auto locking doors setup. The second set of doors would not open until the first had completely closed so that on exit after a robbery the tellers hit a button preventing the outer doors from opening and the BG's would end up stuck in between the two bulletproof doors and could not go anywhere. Now that was pretty cool.

I would almost be afraid of a set up like in the OP......What are you going to do if the machine takes your stuff and somehow screws it up? How are you going to complain? It seems you could stand there for hours and have no one to listen to you.:tinfoil:

And just how is guy supposed to flirt with the tellers? Which is the main reason I go in to begin with.

Your box is full and can't take any more PMs.

[vontar]

At a bank like that, might as well just close the doors and make everyone use the drive though window.

[Guest jackdm3]

That's how it felt. Bulletproof glass is great and proves to be every bit a deterrant as a wall of monitors and reinforced drywall.

And the employees STILL get to go home safely, or at least they get to get out of the building in one piece. The parking lot is a different story.

Edited September 22, 2010 by jackdm3

[Guest db99wj]

It's at a MATCU in a "better" part of town on Hacks Cross in South Germantown. It's the first of its kind that we know of for Memphis metro area. Didn't even know it was there till we went to eat out near the nursing home. The ones I frequent are wide open with no guards. Never understood that part.

Hacks Cross/Winchester/Nonconnah = next hickory hill.

I went to Sam's and WalMart a few weeks ago and will for the most part, won't be back, especially with my kids in tow. Sam's wasn't so bad, but WalMart...that is a whole different story. One of those days that makes me glad I carry. The only problem would be that I would be out gunned by the level of thugness going on up in there.

[Guest KimberChick]

Hacks Cross/Winchester/Nonconnah = next hickory hill.

I went to Sam's and WalMart a few weeks ago and will for the most part, won't be back, especially with my kids in tow. Sam's wasn't so bad, but WalMart...that is a whole different story. One of those days that makes me glad I carry. The only problem would be that I would be out gunned by the level of thugness going on up in there.

I worked at Sportsmans' over there back in 2006-2007. it was already turning into crap like the areas to the west of the intersection. The McD's was robbed by thuglets toting rifles and an employee was shot, if memory serves. I think it turned out the employee had helped to plan it. A body was found behind the Kroger across the street while I was there. Several other businesses were robbed around that intersection then too. it's unique in that the "troubles" moved WITH the businesses as opposed to coming in after everything was pretty well built up. I think that had to do with the fact that those same businesses shut down to the west to move about 2 miles east.

Jack, I think the MATCU on Covington Pike has the ATM teller service too but I wanna say that location had been robbed before.

[kb4ns]

Hmm. Wonder if that's gonna happen at the SunTrust branches around here eventually. The branch I use when I'm working (on Stage Rd in Bartlett) just covered the drive through window with bricks and is rearranging the ouside "stalls". I haven't been inside in a while, but I know they were remodeling. I might have to go in and take a look around.

I went to Sam's and WalMart a few weeks ago and will for the most part, won't be back, especially with my kids in tow. Sam's wasn't so bad, but WalMart...that is a whole different story. One of those days that makes me glad I carry. The only problem would be that I would be out gunned by the level of thugness going on up in there.

You ain't lyin'! The wife and I had to go down that way a couple months ago for something and decided to stop at the WalMart for a few necessities. When we got there (about 8pm) the parking lot lights were out. Completely. It was dark as hell. I hadn't been around that part of town in a while and didn't realize how bad it had gotten. When we got inside and I saw the thuggy "clientele", I was beside myself. And my strong arm was beside something else! But like you, I was still worried due to the sheer number of guns that would be pointed back at me should something go south!