Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

OK, the Ask threads are interesting, and since I have some experience in this matter, I thought it would interest people.

I was the Senior Assistant Branch Manager for a financial institution in MN that has many supermarket branches. I worked in the heart of the ghetto for my last year and a half there. I have been accused of racism, and called cracker more times than I care to remember, along with seeing a fight break out (posted on here a long time ago on a Fight trip report thread, someone with better search skillz can probably find it) and watching the off-duty cops threaten to "Take off this gun belt and beat your ass." to the criminals in my branch.

Any questions about Checking or savings accounts (no lending at my branch), or bank policies people have, send 'em this way. Work is slow today and I'm feeling like I could maybe contribute something here. I am no longer in banking as I spent the summer playing frisbee golf and donating plasma after the bank fired me for a very trumped up reason, and I left the field about 2 years ago.

Start 'em coming, I have 4.5 hours left at work, and god forbid that I use it wisely.

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

most interesting/successful scam pulled at your branch?

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

Tell us about the trumped-up reason [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

[ QUOTE ]
most interesting/successful scam pulled at your branch?

[/ QUOTE ]

Never actually saw someone get away with something. I came home with so many stories of having people arrested my son (5 or so at the time) believed that I worked with superman.

Most amusing was probably when a lady came in sobbing because in the dept. store next door her purse was stolen and it had her $7500 tax refund check inside (she was gonna deposit it after she went shopping) I had the cops come and start taking a report, when my employee brought me a check cash to sign off on, it was this womans ID with the face burnt off with a cigarette, she was trying to cash the check she found in the purse. Had the cops arrest her, and the check returned to the woman on the spot. Lady was so happy she bought the whole branch a cookie boquet and had it delivered to us. Also wrote a very nice letter to my bosses boss about how great I was and how good of a job I did. The letter was in my file when I got canned (still have a copy around here somewhere).

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

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Tell us about the trumped-up reason [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

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The manager had told us not to worry about dual control with the checks we got back (if you move and then order checks through the bank without updating your address with us they get sent to the branch instead of your house, the post office won't forward checks) we got too many checks back to lock them up properly so we were told to ignore it.

Had a full scope audit when the branch manager was in Mexico on a company trip for how good the branch had performed in the last year. Auditor said it was a violation, and since I was the last person to do it (not the first or the only) I got canned about a week later.

Spent the summer home with my kid collecting unemployment, and then started the job I'm at now (bookkeeper for a small carpet store).

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

How much did you make donating plasma?

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

[ QUOTE ]
How much did you make donating plasma?

[/ QUOTE ]

$50 a week, but I have really crappy veins so I had to quit doing it after a while (and I still have a scar on my elbow because they kept having to use the same spot)

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

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The letter was in my file when I got canned (still have a copy around here somewhere).

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah it worked like a charm!

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

How "ghetto" am I supposed to believe that MN really is?

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

[ QUOTE ]
How "ghetto" am I supposed to believe that MN really is?

[/ QUOTE ]

85% of my customers routinely overdrew their accounts, lines out the door and around the corner on Fridays and the 3rd of the month (social security time) Armed police in the grocery store at all times. Surrounded by low income housing. Maybe it ain't Compton, but this was a poor, crime-ridden minority area.

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The letter was in my file when I got canned (still have a copy around here somewhere).

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah it worked like a charm!

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, well it still made me feel good to read it and know I helped someone during a very tough time enough that they felt the need to tell my superiors.

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

why would there be a bank in the ghetto?

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

[ QUOTE ]
why would there be a bank in the ghetto?

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Because poor people need to cash checks, and have bank accounts too?

Seriously it was the most profitable branch in the state for a while because of the amount of $33 overdraft fees our customers incurred (and paid) on a regular basis.

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

It isn't 'Ghetto' if the bank doesn't have the tellers behind bullet-proof glass. Did you have these?

http://www.myglaverbel.com/products/.../Stratobel.jpg

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

No bullet proof glass sorry. Still as ghetto as you can find in MN

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

Did the bank ever get robbed/attempted robbery while you were there? What happened?

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
why would there be a bank in the ghetto?

[/ QUOTE ]

Because poor people need to cash checks, and have bank accounts too?

Seriously it was the most profitable branch in the state for a while because of the amount of $33 overdraft fees our customers incurred (and paid) on a regular basis.

[/ QUOTE ]

What is the best excuse or way to talk your way out of a NSF?

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

How much money did the bank make?

How much did you and the tellers make?

How could a person like yourself embezzle funds?

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

[ QUOTE ]
Did the bank ever get robbed/attempted robbery while you were there? What happened?

[/ QUOTE ]

The ghetto one has actually never been robbed, the one I worked at before it was robbed once at gunpoint, and then a week later some asshat customers came in and handed a not to the same teller that said

"This is a stick-up" and then if you flipped it over it said "NOT" I had to hold him back phiscally to keep him from going over the counter and attacking these people. THey got to spend a few days in the city jail for that stunt.

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
why would there be a bank in the ghetto?

[/ QUOTE ]

Because poor people need to cash checks, and have bank accounts too?

Seriously it was the most profitable branch in the state for a while because of the amount of $33 overdraft fees our customers incurred (and paid) on a regular basis.

[/ QUOTE ]

What is the best excuse or way to talk your way out of a NSF?

[/ QUOTE ]

Be honest, be a long time customer with a history of not having problems (or having lots but never asking for fee reversals), and don't act like I owe it to you. Tell the banker what happened, and ask them to help you, be nice, be curteous, and thank them for whatever help they give you.

At least in my bank you could get more back by calling the phone center than by coming into the bank, but a friend who still works there told me they changed that.

I was pretty generous with fee reversals, especailly if it was your first time. But if you gave me attitude about it, you got nothing back.

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

[ QUOTE ]
OK, the Ask threads are interesting, and since I have some experience in this matter, I thought it would interest people.

I was the Senior Assistant Branch Manager for a financial institution in MN that has many supermarket branches. I worked in the heart of the ghetto for my last year and a half there. I have been accused of racism, and called cracker more times than I care to remember, along with seeing a fight break out (posted on here a long time ago on a Fight trip report thread, someone with better search skillz can probably find it) and watching the off-duty cops threaten to "Take off this gun belt and beat your ass." to the criminals in my branch.

Any questions about Checking or savings accounts (no lending at my branch), or bank policies people have, send 'em this way. Work is slow today and I'm feeling like I could maybe contribute something here. I am no longer in banking as I spent the summer playing frisbee golf and donating plasma after the bank fired me for a very trumped up reason, and I left the field about 2 years ago.

Start 'em coming, I have 4.5 hours left at work, and god forbid that I use it wisely.

[/ QUOTE ]

Is this branch right across from a police station?

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
OK, the Ask threads are interesting, and since I have some experience in this matter, I thought it would interest people.

I was the Senior Assistant Branch Manager for a financial institution in MN that has many supermarket branches. I worked in the heart of the ghetto for my last year and a half there. I have been accused of racism, and called cracker more times than I care to remember, along with seeing a fight break out (posted on here a long time ago on a Fight trip report thread, someone with better search skillz can probably find it) and watching the off-duty cops threaten to "Take off this gun belt and beat your ass." to the criminals in my branch.

Any questions about Checking or savings accounts (no lending at my branch), or bank policies people have, send 'em this way. Work is slow today and I'm feeling like I could maybe contribute something here. I am no longer in banking as I spent the summer playing frisbee golf and donating plasma after the bank fired me for a very trumped up reason, and I left the field about 2 years ago.

Start 'em coming, I have 4.5 hours left at work, and god forbid that I use it wisely.

[/ QUOTE ]

Is this branch right across from a police station?

[/ QUOTE ]

No, it's in a cub foods now across the parking lot from a Walmart that used to be a Kmart

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

[ QUOTE ]
It isn't 'Ghetto' if the bank doesn't have the tellers behind bullet-proof glass. Did you have these?

http://www.myglaverbel.com/products/.../Stratobel.jpg

[/ QUOTE ]

For some reason, I don't see any bulletproof glass banks anymore. The last bank I saw that had them was one in a upper middle class neighborhood in Maryland. I even lived in, been to some rough neighborhoods since then and none have the glass.

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
It isn't 'Ghetto' if the bank doesn't have the tellers behind bullet-proof glass. Did you have these?

http://www.myglaverbel.com/products/.../Stratobel.jpg

[/ QUOTE ]

For some reason, I don't see any bulletproof glass banks anymore. The last bank I saw that had them was one in a upper middle class neighborhood in Maryland. I even lived in, been to some rough neighborhoods since then and none have the glass.

[/ QUOTE ]

Probably because the staff is told to comply with the robbers every request. No need for bullet proof glass if you are gonna do whatever the robber asks anyways, gives them no reason to shoot you, and disturbs the customers who think the bank may not be safe because the need the glass.

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

Im in Chexsystems. What's the best way for me to get some sort of bank account?

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

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Im in Chexsystems. What's the best way for me to get some sort of bank account?

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As long as you aren't listed as owing money you should be able to get an account somewhere. If chexsystems says you owe a bank money you can't.

Call the banks in your area, tell them that you are on Chexsystems and ask what their policy is for opening accounts with that knowledge. My bank was after 1 year (from your last report) you could open an account.

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

[ QUOTE ]
How much money did the bank make?

How much did you and the tellers make?

How could a person like yourself embezzle funds?

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

There are black people in Minnesota?

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
How much money did the bank make?

How much did you and the tellers make?

How could a person like yourself embezzle funds?

[/ QUOTE ]

[/ QUOTE ]

The bank makes millions a year, my branch was showing a profit per day of a few hundred bucks.

I made about $30k my last year there, the branch manager made about $40k (supermarket branch with no lending, full branch managers make more)
Tellers made $8-10 per hour plus incentives for opening accounts.

I shall not speak of embezzlement because it would be next to impossible (I fired 2 different employees for theft), however if you ask the FBI most bank robbers get caught because they continue to do it. Rob only a couple a year, in different parts of the country and you could get away with it for a long time.

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

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There are black people in Minnesota?

[/ QUOTE ]

We bus them in to show how liberal we are. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Actually MN has one of the highest concentration of hmong and somali immigrants in the nation.

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
It isn't 'Ghetto' if the bank doesn't have the tellers behind bullet-proof glass. Did you have these?

http://www.myglaverbel.com/products/.../Stratobel.jpg

[/ QUOTE ]

For some reason, I don't see any bulletproof glass banks anymore. The last bank I saw that had them was one in a upper middle class neighborhood in Maryland. I even lived in, been to some rough neighborhoods since then and none have the glass.

[/ QUOTE ]

Probably because the staff is told to comply with the robbers every request. No need for bullet proof glass if you are gonna do whatever the robber asks anyways, gives them no reason to shoot you, and disturbs the customers who think the bank may not be safe because the need the glass.

[/ QUOTE ]


The Wells Fargo at Scottsdale Rd. and McDowell Road in Arizona installed these a year or so ago. I hadn't been in that branch in a long while. It felt like 'home' since I'd been in business in the South Bronx and all the banks had them. The teller told me they'd been robbed 4 times and since putting in the glass the robbers must be going somewhere else because it's deterred them. I always wondered about that because a robber could always grab an employee or customer and, with a gun to their head, rob the place anyway.

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

Where was the branch? South mpls?

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
OK, the Ask threads are interesting, and since I have some experience in this matter, I thought it would interest people.

I was the Senior Assistant Branch Manager for a financial institution in MN that has many supermarket branches. I worked in the heart of the ghetto for my last year and a half there. I have been accused of racism, and called cracker more times than I care to remember, along with seeing a fight break out (posted on here a long time ago on a Fight trip report thread, someone with better search skillz can probably find it) and watching the off-duty cops threaten to "Take off this gun belt and beat your ass." to the criminals in my branch.

Any questions about Checking or savings accounts (no lending at my branch), or bank policies people have, send 'em this way. Work is slow today and I'm feeling like I could maybe contribute something here. I am no longer in banking as I spent the summer playing frisbee golf and donating plasma after the bank fired me for a very trumped up reason, and I left the field about 2 years ago.

Start 'em coming, I have 4.5 hours left at work, and god forbid that I use it wisely.

[/ QUOTE ]

Is this branch right across from a police station?

[/ QUOTE ]

No, it's in a cub foods now across the parking lot from a Walmart that used to be a Kmart

[/ QUOTE ]

Lake and Nicollet? Oh yeah, that's more ghetto than the one I worked at (the old Minnehaha branch, in the strip mall next to Target)

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

WTF. Where the eff have you been, pudley?

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

Deadbody, I gather you work at a TCF.

Could you undo a couple of overdrafts that happened to me a few days ago? I thought my check had clear and I went to the ATM and withdrew 3 times (canterbury), no dice.

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

[ QUOTE ]
http://www.myglaverbel.com/products/.../Stratobel.jpg

[/ QUOTE ]

lol, that's the exact design of the bank that held my college fraternity's account, in Flint, MI. Except in beige. Now THAT was ghetto.

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

[ QUOTE ]
There are black people in Minnesota?

[/ QUOTE ]

They play for the Vikings and TWolves.. and a few for the Twins [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

[ QUOTE ]
Deadbody, I gather you work at a TCF.

Could you undo a couple of overdrafts that happened to me a few days ago? I thought my check had clear and I went to the ATM and withdrew 3 times (canterbury), no dice.

[/ QUOTE ]

I used to work at TCF (the Midway branch for the folks asking) I don't any longer, I'd call the 612-tcf-bank number and ask them to reverse some of them. I'd also move your account to a bank that won't screw with you on unavailable funds (see any other bank in the state)

And for anyone who says Lake street was more ghetto than Midway bullshiat. I knew people who had worked at both, and Lake St. at least had a contingent of freaks who were otherwise good people, Midway was just all ghetto folk.

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
How much did you make donating plasma?

[/ QUOTE ]

$50 a week, but I have really crappy veins so I had to quit doing it after a while (and I still have a scar on my elbow because they kept having to use the same spot)

[/ QUOTE ]

More info RE: this? Is it painful, worth the time, etc?

Re: Ask deadbody About managing a bank in the Ghetto
 

How much cash can a person deposit or withdraw at one time without big brother being informed? Does it make a difference whether you are at a large nation-wide bank or a smaller local one?