Attention

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not represent our advertisers

Sunday, March 18, 2018

A Viewer Writes: My idea of stupid bank pratices

Joe,

I just had the worst experience of greed I've ever encountered.A friend gave me a check for app. 2000 dollars drawn on M & T Bank from his account. I went to M & T Bank to cash this check and since I didn't have an account there they were going to charge me 2 percent to cash it-I declined. So if I have an account with this bank and I write a check the receiver of the check can't cash it at the bank it was drawn on. They have no problem I'm sure taking the deposit,they just want to control of who cashes it. I told the friend that since I had to run across town to cash this check for materials that I'm charging him extra. However if he changes banks I will return his money. The funny part of this story is that a relative of his just won over 200,000 from the Pa. lottery and was going to deposit it in the same bank - I guarantee he won't now after this happening. A footnote to M & T, don't worry if you lose half your customers the Government will always bail out all banks. And I will also tell anyone I know about your greed.

70 comments:

Anonymous said...

PNC is going to do the same thing

Anonymous said...

You sound like the idiot that asked for 7 gallons of fuel at ROFO. All banks charge non customers to cash a check even if drawn on that bank. Why not deposit it in your own bank account? It clears in a 24 for hours and can be withdrawn. You don't have a bank account? You need money for material but not bank account? Are you one of those unlicensed contractor/wood butchers? He could use Venmo app and sent the money to you, but you probably have a flip phone if you don't have a bank account. SMDH. This is why this area is doomed and no companies want to move their business here and hire people like this.

Anonymous said...

9:38 Every bank is going to do the same thing. Walmart cashes checks too, no account needed.

Anonymous said...

What planet are y’all from. Most banks have been doing this for years.

Anonymous said...

BB&T does it too.

Anonymous said...

Why are you complaining? If you think the check is good, just deposit it in YOUR bank. Duh, what's the problem? You just having a bad day, or something? "Worst experience of greed that you've ever encountered," really? Do you really expect the readers of your complaint to believe that? You are trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill. Deposit the check in your own bank account. Crybaby! Did they hurt your little feelings? The bank doesn't care. You are trying to take some of their cash reserves without even having any money in their bank. Maybe you have doubts about the check, and are trying to get the bank to cover the risk. You took the check, deal with it. The risk is on you, not the bank.

Anonymous said...

If you are not a customer of a bank, you are a cash cow.

Anonymous said...

I run a small business and have to cash checks once in a while and have found M&T to be the worst bank I have been to. I would never open an account there.

Anonymous said...

"So if I have an account with this bank and I write a check the receiver of the check can't cash it at the bank it was drawn on."

Sure you can....for a 2% fee, waived if you have an account with them that has $2000.00 in it that will cover the check if it is bad. Why do you want a bank to give you cash for a check that may be bad, and can't be known until it clears the check clearing process? They can get their money back, if the check is bad, if you have an account with $2000.00 in it. It's YOUR check, not theirs. You want them to give you cash for a piece of paper. If you don't trust the paper in your account at your bank, why do you expect his bank to trust it? They don't. The writer of the check that you accepted, could have many checks floating out there that draw much more than what your check is for. The bank cannot know whether that is the case unless the check goes through a two week clearing process. They aren't going to give you cash and let you walk away without some money to cover it in their bank. Taking a check is always risky business. You should know better. Being mad at the bank for your mistake is not doing you any good.

Anonymous said...

March 13, 2018 at 9:47 AM:

I noticed the personality similarity, and thought the same thing.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like someone that can't get away with a check scam. Good job, M&T.

Anonymous said...

If the bank cases the check for you, they may have bought a worthless piece of paper. If they don't cash cash it for you, it is still your worthless piece of paper. The moral of your story is don't take checks if you're not willing to take the risk. If you already know, or suspect, its a bad check, shame on you. I suspect you have doubts about the check and that's why you didn't just put int in your own account. Do you think banks are dumb? Go ahead and let everybody know about their greed and how they didn't allow you to pass a potentially bad check on them. Makes them look like, well, a bank. Makes you look like someone that made a bad decision to take a $2000.00 check from someone you don't trust.

Anonymous said...

"two week check clearing process" -- what century do you live in?
Most checks clear within 24 hours -- 48 at the most. Shoot you can cash a check in the morning at one bank and it clear another bank the same day.
"Most banks" - most community bank do not charge a fee to cash a check drawn on them. If it's drawn on the bank, they can check to see that it's good before they cash it. So that shouldn't be an issue.

Anonymous said...

My guess is you do not have a bank account, otherwise you would have taken the check to your bank. People who don't have bank accounts (especially people who claim to be running a business) typically don't have them because they have a history of writing bad checks themselves. After that becomes their history, banks won't open an account for them without a substantial account balance on hand. Your indignation points to some shortcomings on your part. If you don't have an account at a bank with money in it, nobody in their right mind is going to give $2000.00 for that check. The bank did nothing wrong to you. You, on the other hand, might be trying to scam them.

Anonymous said...

March 13, 2018 at 10:39 AM:

You might not believe it, but I live in the 21st century. Yes, a bank can take up to two weeks to clear a check (especially checks drawn on foreign accounts), and the casher of the check can be held liable when the check bounces, up to two weeks. Why do you think the bank wants you to have an account with the money in it, before they will cash it? Even if they release the money after 24 hours, the one that cashes the check is still liable if it turns out bad. Too many people think like you do, and find out the bank policies the hard way. Its harder to cheat a bank than you think. And just because the bank knows how much money an account holder has on hand at any given time, they do not know how many pending withdrawals are in the pipeline, at any given time. Its the reason for the clearing process. You sound smart, but overlook the obvious.

Anonymous said...

Joe,

This one is going to be on your top ten list for the week. Lots of scammers with bad credit and no bank accounts, that hate banks, and the rest of us that appreciate what banks do to keep our deposits safe.

Anonymous said...

Hate to break your hearts, but, that is any banking institution! Hebron Savings and BB&T same policy. If you don't have an account there is a check cashing fee!

Anonymous said...

10;49 I'm betting you are right. It is these very people that changed bank processing due to passing bad paper. It only takes a few to make it rough on the rest of the masses.

Anonymous said...

Had the same bad experience with M&T! Bank of Delmarva cashes checks drawn there with no issue. They are awesome!

Anonymous said...

Someone's never been to bank of America.
This is by far the worst ever

Anonymous said...

Banks aren’t check cashing agencies. If you had an account with them that fee is waived bc you are a customer. Why should they do you any favors if your not a customer? Do you not realize that the banks have to pay to process those checks?? They have overhead themselves and to give you 2k and not charge a fee is stupid. Take it to your bank and have it cashed sounds like you don’t have the money to cover it. I wouldn’t want a contractor that needs to have a check cashed before he can buy materials!! You must be running a great business!!

Anonymous said...

Why 2% across the board?
It costs the bank no more to cash a $4000 check than it does a $400 check.

Anonymous said...

Just some information for your readers from a former bank employee: When a check written on a particular bank is brought into a branch of that same institution, it is handled as an "on-us" check, which means the funds are taken out of the account owner's balance immediately (assuming there are sufficient funds in the account). It does not need to 'clear' through the banking system, as some of the comments have stated. The actual risk to the bank by cashing the check is (1) being sure that the individual who wants the cash is indeed the individual to whom the check is made out to and (2) being sure that the check was not issued under fraudulent circumstances (including theft, etc.) Today, individuals can also create bogus checks very easily. Years ago, before fraudulent checks were much less of an issue, branches would cash such a check with proper ID, depending on their established limits, without a fee. Today, many institutions are looking to drive up their fee income in any way possible, so once one institution starts charging a check-cashing fee, many will follow their lead.

Anonymous said...

Wicomico County online taxes $17.40 to pay your damn taxes .

Anonymous said...

7 gallons' is that you again?

HAHAHAHAHA

Anonymous said...

Why 2% across the board?
It costs the bank no more to cash a $4000 check than it does a $400 check.

March 13, 2018 at 12:05 PM:

If I have to explain, you still wouldn't understand. You do know that is "costs" them $4000.00 to cash a $4000.00 check, don't you? When they cash the check, they are out $4000.00, whether the check is good, or not.

Anonymous said...

The bank knows if the money is in the account or not. They can also put a hold on that amount so it will be there for that check to clear.
Very simple.

Anonymous said...

Well, I didn't know most/all banks charge another fee to cash a check drawn on their bank. Unless someone has free checking, they already pay a fee (to the bank) to even have a checking account and write checks. Then if someone presents that same check to that same bank, they are charged 2% for the bank to cash their check? Nice racket the banks got going on, getting paid twice to handle one check.

But hey, everyone's doing it so it must be okay right? I don't have many dealings with checks myself but the few I have had there was a much longer waiting period than 24 or 48 hours for it to clear, although they would $500 to be available right away.

Stupid is as stupid does smallsbury.

Anonymous said...

Why should a bank maintain a building, pay employees and taxes, along with other ovhead expenses, to provide you with ready cash for free? You're the greedy unreasonable one.

Anonymous said...

HSB is no longer a great bank since Jonson got ousted. We don't do business with them anymore. BOD is much better.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous Anonymous said...
Why should a bank maintain a building, pay employees and taxes, along with other ovhead expenses, to provide you with ready cash for free? You're the greedy unreasonable one.

March 13, 2018 at 12:54 PM

Oh, I don't know, maybe because that is their function? Along with just maybe making loans and charging interest to cover such expenses. And other financial wizardry such as investing capital, buying and selling commodities and whatever else these money changers do to generate revenue.

Or maybe I'm wrong and they are not that smart to do all that. Maybe they have to continue to stick it to the little guy in ways such as this to keep their heads above water. It seems certain to be accepted and condoned by the mental midgets of smallsbury. (and I didn't even mention their insurance)

Anonymous said...

Hebron Savings Bank does not charge to cash checks for non account holders.

Anonymous said...

You have to be the same one that wen't to Royal Farms and ordered 7 gallons of diesel.

Anonymous said...

75-80% of banks are doing this. You may find one or two in town that aren't charging non-customers to cash checks.

Anonymous said...

I have a home equity loan with M & T. Since I do not have a checking account with M&T, I cannot pay my bill online with them, so I have to set up bill pay with my bank to avoid sending it by mail. I can pay online with everyone else but this bank. Kind of crazy!

Anonymous said...

10:19 when you take a check to the bank they check the balance right then if the money is in the account it is deducted right then. So why the charge?

Anonymous said...

BB&T has cashed checks for me without a charge but it has always been because of my good attitude and that they know their customer (person writing the check) by name and he is in good standing with the bank.

Anonymous said...

If someone gives me a check from their bank and I want to cash it at their bank they have no excuse to charge for it. I go thru this when I go to M & T and I refuse to pay it. I do have an account at another bank.

Anonymous said...

11:24 You are wrong. Hebron Savings does not charge a fee if you cash a check there and you don't have an account with them.

Anonymous said...

Let me clarify some points as the writer of this article and reading some of the stupidest comments I've read.First I'm not the 7 gallon guy-second I wasn't near my bank-third I've got 3 bank accounts of which one is on line only-Third since when do I need a contractors license to do some work for my Grandmother and save her money because she's on a fixed income-and last if a bank that has a check written on it can't tell if the funds are there you shouldn't deal with them at all.Post note all banks don't do this and yes Hebron Savings does not charge nor does the other 2 banks I called does.

Anonymous said...

I agree with 2:46. A check is, in effect, a demand note drawn on the account of the signee at the ban where the account is held. If anything, the charge should be against the account holder for allowing the 'ease of access' with the institution.
A check is a promise to pay and the bank it's drawn on should honor them at no charge. The bank can put a hold on the funds immediately with absolutely no risk to the bank.
My wife closed a six figure business account at M&T because they charged her to cash a check drawn on her business (she was a signer) because she didn't have a personal account with them. I'm surprised m&t is still in business.

Anonymous said...

3:39 They do have the right and will charge you or refuse to cash it. Deposit it in your bank or get cash instead of a check.

Anonymous said...

BOD is the best bank around since HSB got rid of the last president.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
You have to be the same one that wen't to Royal Farms and ordered 7 gallons of diesel.
March 13, 2018 at 2:21 PM

obsess much? get over it and move on

Anonymous said...

The answer is no. You move on.

Anonymous said...

Your story doesn't add up. So your friend is your grandmother? And you would charge her extra for riding across town to cash the check? That being said, there are a couple banks that will cash a check for someone that doesn't have a account, but I sure don't blame the ones that don't.

Anonymous said...

March 13, 2018 at 4:49 PM:

A "promise to pay" is nothing but an IOU. Checks are not cash, and you can't use them as cash. I wouldn't give you 10 cents for another person's IOU. The bank doesn't have to either. You find a way to sucker someone else to accept the risk that you accepted by accepting an IOU, or you are stuck with it. There is nobody that I know that I would accept a $2000.00 check from. But I will take an Electronic Funds Transfer from their checking account into mine. That's how it's done in the 21st century, and removes the risk of bad checks.

Anonymous said...

March 13, 2018 at 12:11 PM:

So, as a former bank employee, you know that the complainer has something wrong with her story, and the bad paper she is trying to pass.

Anonymous said...

It's your grandmother's check???? Come on, no wonder nobody wants to believe a story like that. Do you sell used cars, or what?

Anonymous said...

You can't make anybody cash a check. It is not "legal tender." It is only as good as the person writing it. You can ask someone, or a bank, to cash a check, but you can't MAKE them give you money for it. Money is money, but a check is, well, just an IOU, a piece of paper. I have trouble believing you took a $2000.00 check from someone, drove across town to try and cash it at a bank YOU don't have an account with, and then have the nerve to complain about the bank wanting a fee to cash it. You should tell us again why you didn't deposit the check in your own bank account and wait for it to clear, or take money out of your own account until the check clears. What's the matter? Don't you think the check is any good? You must know something about that check that you aren't telling us. You sound like a scam artist to me. I don't think anyone (honest people, that is) is going to put much faith in your complaint about the bank's "greed." Kudos to M&T for standing up to you.

Anonymous said...

Who are you? Oh the dummy that didn’t know how to multiply and wanted someone else to do it. You have initials and you think you have unmasked yourself?

Anonymous said...

I don't think M&T is worried about "losing 1/2 of their customers" over refusing to cash the check you accepted from your "grandmother", without a charging a fee. If you didn't trust depositing it in your own bank account, I suspect that YOU suspect the honesty of the check writer. Shame on you, not the bank.

Anonymous said...

I have never seen so many idiotic comments in my life. The idiot that said why would a bank want to cash a check if it may not have sufficient funds takes the top prize. If you take a check from an M&T account to an M&T bank they check the account before handing over the cash. That is the point of going there. Why the hell would someone want to deposit a personal check into their own account when you have no idea if the payee has the funds to cover it? You go to the bank of check origination to verify the account has the funds. It's common sense and good business practice.

Anonymous said...

11:22 Exactly and the bank will charge you to cash it if you don't have an account there. Even more telling is that this person has a check from their grandmother. If you can't trust her, who can you trust? This is just another example of how backwards, cheap and retarded people here are. They complain about everything and claim that they are smarter than everyone else but never seem to get ahead in life.

Anonymous said...

3/18 11:22- You keep repeating yourself, like we can't understand English. Repeating yourself over and over does not make for a good or validated argument, nor does stating those in disagreement have idiotic comments. Frankly, after reading this thread, I have notice a couple lies. First, your friend has now turned into your grandmother. WHAT?! I KNOW you are making stuff up. I am further more convinced by your comment about charging more to run across town. You would charge your grandmother to run across town?! You must be a P.O.S.! You've been called out a number of times, but you still condemn those opinions, that you actually sought out, as being crazy. If you want to see crazy, it's right there in the bathroom mirror. I suggest you stop adding to your nonsense and walk away! What were you expecting with your post? My guess, not this. Maybe this is helpful. You can be very wrong, too.

Anonymous said...

Had you sufficient funds in your own bank account you could have posted it as CASH. Sounds like you live in the money order world and don't bank or have much.

Anonymous said...

March 14, 2018 at 3:25 PM

and your wrong.

Anonymous Anonymous said...
Who are you? Oh the dummy that didn’t know how to multiply and wanted someone else to do it. You have initials and you think you have unmasked yourself?

March 15, 2018 at 6:43 AM

You are really hung up on that aren't ya? Wow. Get a life.

Anonymous Anonymous said...
I don't think M&T is worried about "losing 1/2 of their customers" over refusing to cash the check you accepted from your "grandmother", without a charging a fee. If you didn't trust depositing it in your own bank account, I suspect that YOU suspect the honesty of the check writer. Shame on you, not the bank.

March 18, 2018 at 10:21 AM

No, shame on you and your stupidity.

Anonymous Anonymous said...
I have never seen so many idiotic comments in my life. The idiot that said why would a bank want to cash a check if it may not have sufficient funds takes the top prize. If you take a check from an M&T account to an M&T bank they check the account before handing over the cash. That is the point of going there. Why the hell would someone want to deposit a personal check into their own account when you have no idea if the payee has the funds to cover it? You go to the bank of check origination to verify the account has the funds. It's common sense and good business practice.

March 18, 2018 at 11:22 AM

Boy you got that right. People that have that much negative things to say about others is just a mean, negative person themself and have no life or happiness. We all know people like that. Most of us try to avoid them at all costs. We may even have people like that in our families that we have to tolerate. They are just miserable and nothing we can do to change that. If you try to be nice to them, they just use it against you. This area is over-run with them and they frequently show up here infecting the comments with their poison. They just love to sow drama and argue about anything and everything. Heck, I know they are even going to argue about my comment. lol. Have at it

Anonymous said...

I have dealt with M&T since 1987 & have never had any problems.Good comment 5:09.

Anonymous said...

It's funny how you condemn other opinions on here, and you think yours is the only one that counts. You are self centered.

Anonymous said...

you can`t even exchange money at a bank without having an account there.
try it for yourself, take five $20 bills into any bank and ask to exchange them for a $100 bill, they won`t do it unless you have an account at their bank.

banks act like every dollar deposited into their bank is their money and no longer belongs to the customers who deposited it.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous Anonymous said...
I have dealt with M&T since 1987 & have never had any problems.Good comment 5:09.

March 18, 2018 at 9:00 PM

Thank you for your kindness.

Anonymous said...

M&T worse bank ever, their employees are about as friendly as a grizzly bear.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous Anonymous said...
It's funny how you condemn other opinions on here, and you think yours is the only one that counts. You are self centered.

March 18, 2018 at 9:28 PM

Nothing funny at all. First, I don't condemn anything, even your asinine comment. Pointing out people's flawed logic, lack of facts, and other stupidity is not condemning. It is pointing out their errors. And since you act so butthurt, I am betting you are one of them.

You must be really, really new here if your panties get in a wad so tight that you don't understand what 80% of comments on here are about. Everybody has their own opinion and they can keep it all day long. But when an opinion is based on lies, rumors, flawed or missing logic, (whether intentional or just from ignorance) they need, and will, get called out.

I think, sir, that you are the one self-centered. If you think you could never be wrong or that just maybe someone might just be a tad smarter than you, you have an ego larger than Comey's. Try to tone it down a notch.

Have a wonderful day.

Anonymous said...

The two comments below are from the same person I bet. Butthurt.

Anonymous Anonymous said...
Who are you? Oh the dummy that didn’t know how to multiply and wanted someone else to do it. You have initials and you think you have unmasked yourself?

March 15, 2018 at 6:43 AM

Anonymous Anonymous said...
It's funny how you condemn other opinions on here, and you think yours is the only one that counts. You are self centered.

March 18, 2018 at 9:28 PM

Anonymous said...

Farmers Bank of Willards doesn't charge,they are a great bank.

Anonymous said...

It's simple .... DO NOT accept a CHECK.... Insist on CASH payment. There is no law or custom that requires you to accept a check. A check is not legal tender...

Anonymous said...

Not the same person. You must be the chosen one.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous Anonymous said...
Not the same person. You must be the chosen one.

March 19, 2018 at 3:07 PM

hahaha there he is. so easy to draw out. I'm sorry ur feelings are hurt but get over it.

Anonymous said...

As Clint once said, come on punk, make my day.

Anonymous said...

Trying To Cash A Check ?? I Bet You Use A Walker !! That's Old Dude !