The Kansas State Bank.
Then Edgar County Bank and Trust.
Now..... a pile of rubble.
It was a great job. One that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Fun and challenging work.
Awesome co-workers.
And getting to serve the public.... very, very rewarding.
There are many things about my KSB job that I vividly remember.
One of them related to folks bringing in their change to be counted and turned-in to bills.
We didn't charge to do it (like some banks do today). That's customer service.
It was sometimes hilarious to see what people used to hold their change.
Piggy banks.
Miracle Whip jars.
Coffee cans.
And even a sock or two.
My most vivid memory of the coin counting machine related to a customer who ran a vending machine operation.
If I remember correctly, it was primarily cigarette machines and juke boxes at bars and clubs.
Maybe some arcade games too.
Almost on perfect schedule, every Saturday around 10:00 or 10:30, she'd come in with bags and bags of dirty, stinky quarters.
Some weeks $1,200-$1,500 worth of quarters.
It would take 15-20 minutes to run them all thru the machine (verifying her count, which she had already done at home), but she was always pleasant, patient, and a joy to talk to.
Why do I bring all this up?
Here's why:
"JPMorgan Chase is getting out of the coin-counting business (in Chicago). Chase is telling customers it will not accept large amounts of loose change beginning July 1. Customers must roll their coins."
A bank..... not accepting money. Really?
Apparently, more and more banks are getting rid of their coin-counting machines, mainly due to the cost of maintaining them:
With banks not liking to count coins any more, what options do you have?
Well, you can roll your own and exchange them for bills -- but even some banks don't like to do that.
Or you can find a Coinstar machine, and pay a hefty fee to have your coins counted:
But, if you take a gift card instead of cash, the fee is waived.
So bring your pennies, nickels, and dimes....... in a can or in a sock.
Out for now.....
Matt