When you go into a bank that you've never been to before and you ask for a box of coins, does the teller ever get curious and ask you why you need them? Because if they don't know about CRH, picking up boxes of pennies, nickels, dimes, or halves would probably seem strange to them. Also, do they ever give you problems if you don't have an account with them? I am asking these questions because I want to pick up my first box ever and I don't know what to expect when I go to the bank. I've been having really great results from the register at my job but i'd like to finally get an actual box of coins. I'm just going to get one box of pennies and then maybe a box of nickels another time. I'd love to hear some stories about your experiences at banks.
Depends on the bank, the tellers and most importantly on the "vault teller" - he or she and the manager are the people you want on your side. I "freestyle" into banks and credit unions I don't have accounts with but have gotten in good with certain people there. I explain clearly what I am looking for and tell them about my reward programme ie if I find 100 year old coins they get a box of candy - one time after buying up a bag of $200 worth of nickels from a bank I don't have an account with but found someone willing to sell me the nickels - I found a 1908 Liberty. I was literally back at that bank within an hour with their promised box of candy - the manager got called out and I met her and the vault teller. Now I am on call when they have goodies come in - about three weeks ago a call for a 1967 40% half. I have only ever run into one or two stinkers, curiously in a bank I have accounts with and only in a couple of branches. You learn to bypass them.
My experience is similar, you can do fine with a teller but for a box the teller goes to the vault teller or manager and that person must also be willing to give you a box. Gifts help but not always. and as with all things, folks are just different, some are great, a few are difficult. most are helpful if you are honest, positive and polite.
I have heard different answers to the following question: Do you tell them you're looking for silver, or just looking for "interesting" coins? Don't want to tip them off too much...
alot of banks don't care...mine certainly doesn't and will just give me a box as long as they have some on hand.....no questions asked.
One bank I go to seemed annoyed when I would go in, well some of the tellers did anyway. However that all changed when a rare opportunity presented itself. Lets just say I am am honest fellow. I was checking my account statement and noticed a $50.00 credit which did not belong to me. Yes I thought for a quick second but thought the bank had been helpful over the years and the right thing to do was notify them of the error. So I did. The teller I explained this to was shocked. He went and spoke to one of the managers who literally came up to me and shook my hand, thanking me. He then went and told me not to worry about it. The bank would never miss it. Since this I have never had another issue with them. I wonder why. I would have to agree it is a person by person thing, and yes I have told them I am looking for interesting coins. I never tell anyone I am looking for silver, lol.
I have a drop bank where they always seem put out when I bring in my coins. All my other drop banks are happy to help me, and a couple even offer "interesting" coins from their trays if they have them. I avoid the "grumpy" bank if I can... LOL!
I think that the best idea is to call ahead and let them know that you’ll be coming and for what. Particularly if you want an entire box of anything that is not typical change, like dollars and half dollars – most retail-location-type banks aren’t likely to have them laying around. I tried walking into several branches of Chase, with whom I do have an account, asking for rolls of dollars, half dollars, etc. and got only a few rolls and random loose coins collected from all of the tellers. Finally I called a couple of branches ahead of visiting and found one that had a few hundred worth of rolls. When I went in to get them the manager served me, because he was the one who would be getting them from the vault, and I asked nicely if he would order some boxes if I promised to come in weekly and take a couple hundred off of his hands at a time. He said “sure,” and now I have a steady supply without irritating or inconveniencing anyone. And the best part is that this branch is directly across the street from the rare coin store where I buy my ASEs every week, so it’s one-stop shopping for me. I’ve read people on here who say that they go to banks and CUs where they don’t have an account, which is fine if it works for them, but it only seems fair to give your banking business to the bank that is accommodating your hobby. I know that at Chase whenever I ask for/about anything they look at my account and history before answering me. I asked about the prices and sizes of safe deposit boxes yesterday and the answer started with “Based upon your account history, your options . . .”
