Walked past a bank branch downtown and the line was out the door

I was in Chicago last Friday and cut through the Loop to grab lunch. I passed one of those big national bank branches and the line was wrapped around the corner, maybe 30 people deep. It was 1 PM on a weekday, not even a holiday. It got me looking at their hours on the door, and they close at 4 PM now, which is way earlier than I remember. I used to go with my dad as a kid and they were open until 6. It feels like they're pushing everyone to the app or the website, but what about people who need cash or have a problem they can't fix online? I saw a lot of older folks in that line. Are banks just giving up on having real places you can go? What happens if you need a cashier's check or a medallion signature in a hurry?

3 comments

3 Comments

ruby_jones1mo ago

Remember when banks used to have those little lollipop jars for kids?

vera_robinson361mo ago

My local credit union still has a green plastic tub of dum-dums by the drive-thru tube. I always thought it was just a nice thing to do, but my friend who works there told me it's a huge deal for parents trying to do errands with little kids. A free lollipop can stop a full meltdown in the teller line. I used to think it was a silly little treat, but now I see it as a real help. Why did so many banks stop doing it?

avery_jackson1mo ago

Oh man, @vera_robinson36, that's so true... it really is a lifesaver. I saw a mom at my bank looking so stressed, and the teller just slid a sucker through the window for her toddler. Instant quiet... it changed the whole mood. I guess big banks just see it as a cost to cut, which is pretty short-sighted.