Ok, why was the bank tellers total assholes today?

[Kerrytravelers]

Every week, I go to Union Bank, deposit my paycheck from my work and ask them to post it immediately. This has never been a problem before.

Until today.

I was told that they don't do that, and that I've never done it before. Then, the manager told me that such a thing will never happen on her watch. All this was said through that fake smile that always drives me nuts. I got their names and will be calling the bank manager to complain.

WTF is wrong with people? If the other tellers were posting it when they were not suppose to, then apologize for the confusion, suggest cash, be polite. My husband has been a customer since 1992 and I was added to the account in January 2002. At Bank of America (where I've been since 1992) they NEVER behave like this. In fact, when they see how long you've been a customer, they will work with you.

We're never had any financial issues with this account- just bad service.

When I call, what should I say? Who is the appropriate person to ask for?

[mduffy31]

1. Well my paycheck that I deposited on Thursday

Still hasn't posted to my account with Wells Fargo, and my employer's check is a WELLS FARGO ACCOUNT!!!

Why did you have to bring that up, now I am going to be irritated again. It is all your fault KT!

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

8. That's illegal.

You should say something about that.

[Aristus]

2. They should have been more polite. But then, the tellers never

should have posted the check to your account right there and then. Your convenience is not the issue. The bank has to protect its assets. You are supposed to have $100 credited to your account at the time of deposit, the remainder 24 hours after. The only items that should post instantly are cash, Cashier's Checks and money orders.

I was a bank teller for three years, and I can't tell you how many time someone would say to me: "Oh...well...so-and-so ALWAYS posts it instantly for me!" Whether that's true or not, I sure as hell couldn't do it without violating federal law and any one of a number of the bank's by-laws.

There IS a clause in Federal Banking law that says the bank can post a two-party check to a personal account immediately. I don't remember the actual wording, but it basically says: "Yes, we can, but please don't ask us to."

Still, there is never an excuse for them being rude to you. Firm, yes. But not rude.

[Kerrytravelers]

4. I'm not worried about my convenience. I don't like being spoken to

very rudely.

However, it does remind me why I like BofA better and was the last straw for my husband as well. BofA seems to work harder to please their customers, while Union Bank has this "too bad, fuck you" mentality.

[Aristus]

6. I used to be with BofA. They have a "t.b, f.y" attitude, as well.

I'm with Wells Fargo now. I use my debit and credit cards, write checks for bills, check my account balances through on-line banking, and do all of my paycheck deposits and cash withdrawals at the ATM. My level of human contact with my bankers is near-zero. Which is probably how they want it. Automated banking procedures of every type are much less expensive than face-to-face banking. Maybe Union Bank is deliberately trying to drive you to on-line banking and ATMs hoping to cut costs.

[Kerrytravelers]

9. Ah. I had not thought of that. I wish my employer had direct deposit.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

13. Oops -- I was just about to suggest direct deposit.

Any way you can talk your employer into it? I have it, and it's a wonderful convenience. I'd also highly recommend a credit union if you have access to one. My experience has been that you get much better service, far less assholery than you get from a regular bank.

[Kajsa]

3. I would call the 800 customer service number

and find out;

What the policy is at Union Bank for immediate credit on paychecks.
Who that manager works for, i.e. who's her boss.

They should give you immediate credit on your paycheck if there have
been no problems with it in the past.

Good luck!

:hi:

[Kerrytravelers]

5. Thank you. I believe I will!

Since I've been bring in checks from this particular business for over a year and the business itself is over 10 years, there seems to be a fairly safe assurance. But hey, even if other tellers were doing something they shouldn't, the attitude is what totally pisses me off.

[Duer 157099]

7. Here's something I learned by experience

One day I deposited CASH (the green stuff) into my account, and asked the teller to post it immediately. He smiled and said, "Sure". So when I got home I checked my balance online, and saw the usual -- $100 credited now, the rest "pending" -- so I called the main office to yell at them. I was told that *even* with cash, they have to hold the deposit (minus the $100) until it posts the next day, for accounting purposes. I said, WTF??

So, next time I brought cash to the bank, I was more specific with the teller. I said, can you make these funds available immediately? She smiled and said sure. When I got home and checked online, sure enough, it was all there and available. I had told her that I wanted to make an electronic transfer that same day, so needed the funds available.

I wonder if it's in how you explain it to the teller?

Also, I have a question for any tellers here: if I deposit a check on the same day that I write a check against the same amount, is there any chance that the check will not clear? I mean, the deposited check is good, but perhaps from a personal account and from a different bank. In my mind, there shouldn't ever be a problem with doing that, but I get nervous writing a check when the funds aren't posted as being "available" yet. Am I worrying about nothing?

Thanks...

[Kerrytravelers]

10. You'd think they would ask me... you'd think...

Perhaps Atrius is correct. They don't want to bother with us any longer. Well, Union Bank, no problem! You won't have to deal with me any longer!

[Aristus]

11. If you want to write a check for the same amount as a check you

deposited that same day, a lot depends on the amount of the deposited check. If it is a large, unsecured amount, say, a two-party check for $5,000 or so, the bank may put a hold on all funds above $100 until the deposited check clears the bank upon which it was drawn. It has been my experience that bank tellers will inform you that a hold must be placed before it is done. They are not really asking your consent, just informing you. Don't expect that the bank will ignore its own holds policy just because you might be inconvenienced. In cases like this the choice comes down to accept the hold, or deposit it at some other bank.

If it is a secured amount, like a Cashier's Check or a credit card draft check, the funds will almost always be made available immediately. Some banks will be pedantic and hold even secured funds, but some gentle encouragement to the teller should smooth things over.

All things being equal, your only problem now is "float", the amount of time that passes between the time you write the check and the time it is presented for payment at your bank. A lot of different factors come into play here. Whether you are writing it to an individual or a business, how soon the individual or business deposits the check into their own bank, how long it takes the intermediary bank to process the check and send it on to your bank for payment, etc. Also, and I've seen this a lot, if you write a check to an individual party, they often march right over to your bank to have it paid directly. Better make sure the funds are available then. The bank can't cash a check made out to an individual and presented in person for payment if the funds are not available, but if they can't, your worry there is if the person will quite understandably lose trust in your ability to pay or your integrity or both. Also, sometimes small businesses will run a messenger with the check over to the paying bank the same day they receive it to collect the funds. This is called "hammering" the check. It's perfectly legal, so again, make sure your funds are available. This is especialy true if you are also a small business owner. If the person you're doing business with can't collect money you owe to their business, they may stop all business relations with your company.

[chaska]

12. I just gotta say, BoA is the worst bank on earth...

I like Washington Mutual much better.

[Kerrytravelers]

14. I've had an open mind to Washington Mutural, actually,

I'm just tired of sass from Union Bank.

[FILAM23]

15. All banks suck

I use nothing but Credit Unions..And the Bank of America branch in my home town
is the worst bank in town (by reputation)