Has anyone been paying attention to the hoops banks are making their customer go through when they try to withdraw cash? Some restrictions fall into the category of consumer protection, like limits at ATMs, but about a month ago a family member of mine tried to take out about $6,000 and he was refused. The reasons given were inconsistent; at first we were told they could only do half that amount “due to Covid.” This served as a reminder how quickly people acquiesce to impositions if they are done under the auspices of “Covid.” I could tell by the way the teller responded she figured that would end the conversation immediately, and given how compliant people have shown themselves to be, I can see why.
But, they advised, you can go to another branch and get the remaining balance today. Ummm, how exactly does such a requirement (to get your OWN money!) help prevent the spread of a virus? I asked that question, and was then asked what we wanted the money for. My response was less than diplomatic, but the gist was that it was none of their business (it's OUR money!), to which they responded they were simply “looking out for us.”
The best we could get was the limited allowance in cash and the rest in a cashier's check, otherwise we would have to go to the inconvenience of driving to another branch and get the same cash (our OWN money!) from the same bank. How does that protect consumers from viruses or fraud? I was with my son, a 22 year old adult, so there was clearly no threat that his money was being withdrawn under duress, and he told them he needed it for his business – not that they are entitled to an explanation, nor should anyone have to seek permission and approval to withdraw ones OWN money!
The other day I went to withdraw a smaller amount, well within the $3,000 “limit.” No problem, right? Wrong. I gave them my valid driver's license, the one with the Yellow Star, and my bank card. Once they had them in their possession, the teller asked, as if she had “forgotten” to do so at the beginning of the transaction asked who my employer was!
I responded with another question – what does that have to do with our transaction? “Oh, there's just a blank entry in your records and we want to fill that in.” I said I'd been with the bank for 10 years and had never been asked such a thing. Again, pleasantly, “We just want to know who we are doing business with,” to which I responded I was the one on the drivers license they had in their possession.
Unrelenting, they asked again, saying it was a “new” requirement, a contradictory response to the previous excuse, so I responded that I am self employed, or unemployed, she could pick one. She then was frustrated, saying, “Well, when you WERE working, what did you do?”
Two things were clear at that point: I would never get cash out (my OWN money!) unless I complied, so I responded that I'm an attorney. Here's my issue: remember Operation Choke Point? If not, look it up. We have seen instances of PayPal and GoFundMe denying service based on occupations or view points with which these companies disagree, but I never expected my own bank to delve deeper into my personal life, particularly absent ANY indication of unlawful activity.
So, what if I responded that I am a firearms instructor, or own a gun store? Maybe I write for a conservative magazine or newspaper? Or that I am a radio personality for conservative stations, or work for any other media company with which the left finds objectionable? We have discussed social credits and the goal of attaining a cashless society many times on my radio shows, but when your own bank starts categorizing you based on occupation (we know who wants this information), it is time to start worrying.