Went to a local BB&T Bank branch yesterday to purchase 2 Rolls of Half Dollars. Please note that BB&T is not my regular bank. The teller at the drive-in window told me she would check to see if they had any. She came back with what I can only assume to be one of the bank officers. He politely told me that yes they had some rolls, but they could only sell me some if I had an account with them! I have never heard of such nonsense. Does that mean I can't get change for a $10 unless I have an account there? Sooo...I e-mailed the BB&T head office and got this terse reply: "BB&T will not sell or trade monetary items to non-clients. We apologize for any inconvenience." Is this standard banking policy now? I know my bank (Suntrust) does not have such policy. What do you think?
In my opinion, yes. The bank is a private enterprise. They expend money to assure that they have merchandise and services for their customers. If you don't have an account at the bank, you're not a customer. You're someone trying to get something for free. Thus, they don't have to give you the half dollars at cost. Of course, they are not presenting themselves well from a marketing point of view. You might become a customer if they took your not-for-profit order. I guess they decided that it wasn't worth the potential business though.
Very common. Even some credit unions are like that. They do have to pay for the ordering and delivery of coins. At my main bank, to order specific quantity and types of coins require a "business account" which is more expenses, but more services also, so I don't harbor ill feelings. If they have a order to send, they will add boxes of cents or whatever for me as I social engineer I sometimes give them a G Indian head cent or buffalo nickel in change and point it out to them, and of course they set it aside, and remember me. Jim
My credit union will not do anything for non-members. I saw a lady come in and ask to trade her ten dollar bill for quarters, and they refused, but offered to open an account for her and let her do the transaction.
Thats how our credit union is as well. Additionally, not just anyone can join ours...you have to be an employee of the railroad to become a member. Guy
Completely normal....I would have said "I'll right in to open an account". In general, I don't recommend using the drive-thru for grabbing coins. Go right in. It's harder to tell you no face to face.
The same thing happens up here in Canada. No account, no service. Also, with a new account, they require you to put in a minimum (sbout $50) which is frozen for a minimum of 30 days. But service charges are applied to that $50 so at the end of the 30 days, you are down to $45 even if you don't use the account.
