and waited.... and waited... they had two tellers open out of a possible twelve. And waited. And I finally got up to the counter to trade in a $100 bill for some of the new $10 bills and... they "didn't have any." If you like collecting money (coins, bills) I can tell you where NOT to bank... Washington Mutual. Everytime I've thought they couldn't GET any more suckier, they surpass those expectations. I want those 15 minutes of my life back. I'd go to the Washington Mutual close to where I work (just opened) but... they don't have cash drawers. Instead they stand at little tables and accept checks but you have to go over to a ATM style machine and type in a code to get cash. The machine is the only thing that gives you money, thus you can't ask for anythign specific (though you can request the denomination). Where to you bank in L.A. area (South Bay) that isn't like this?
I think all Washinton Mutuals are like this. The one near where I work in NY is. I don't like it at all. So I don't use that bank.
I have a feeling you are right as the other Wash. Mutual bank I used to go before we moved (close, but far enough to go to another branch) was equally as uninviting. You just don't feel like you can go up to the counter and request anything like rolls or this or that or anything aside from just doing banking business. Although I don't live in an unsafe area (far as I can tell anyhow), the banks and even the post office have everyone behind very thick plexiglass. Very impersonal and harder to communicate. At first the guy didn't hear me and thought I wanted to trade my hundred for another hundred, which he didn't have crisp ones of either. I got excited when I realized he misunderstood me and asked for the $10 bills... which he didn't end up having. Bleh.
I got mine You guys are way wrong about Washington Mutual. Best bank I ever used. And I'm old. I got my new $10 bills last week with no wait. I have also got rolls of all the new coins almost as soon as the coin stores. Plus the girls there know me and save any unusual coins or currency for me. So don't bad mouth my bank. JonySky
