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Showing posts with label bank. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bank. Show all posts

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Wild West?

My bank was being (or had just been) robbed when I went by  the branch late yesterday, to deposit a check and get cash for the weekend.
I love my bank. I know the people who work there and they know me. They are always helpful, willing to make a photocopy for me or a phone call to say that "Someone" didn't sign the payroll checks before giving them out, and cashing the unsigned checks on our verbal approval so that our poor employees are not inconvenienced.
Over the years I have once or twice noticed funny grey dust on the bank counter and been told they had been robbed and that was finger printing powder. Yesterday, everything looked normal except the door wouldn't open. There was a sign in the window that said they would be closed Saturday due to a Street Faire and Monday because of July Fourth. I did a double take, wondering if my days were mixed up, then I looked for the bank hours to confirm. It was Friday, twenty before five, and they should have been open.
The familiar face of the manager appeared at the door and she pointed to a new sign "Closed due to an Emergency" printed in large letters, in red ink. I hadn't seen that one. She moved it lower on the door and we waved to one another.
As I turned away, I saw a police car waiting quietly across the street with the officer outside his vehicle. A young teller, who is working to put herself through college, was let out of the bank and walked hurriedly behind my car towards the police officer. Her face showed she was very upset. I rolled down my window to ask if she was O.K. and she acknowledged my question with a flutter of her hand by her side and kept going.
About then I was deciding that maybe the incident was still on-going. I had assumed they had been robbed but were in investigation and interview mode. If that were the case, I think the police cars would have been right in the parking lot by the door.
Obviously it was time to leave. As I pulled out I saw another black and white around the corner and more approaching from different directions. No lights, no sirens.
It took me twelve minutes to drive to the other branch I frequent in the town next door. I was watching the clock because I was afraid I wouldn't make it before closing time.
They know me too, which is just as well. I tend to leave my purse in my car so I need someone to vouch for me for cash back. I asked if they knew what was going on and they had not heard anything. Whilst I was there they received an email that the other branch would be closed for the rest of the day.
I was awake worrying about my bank-buddies during the night. I won't find out more until Tuesday, but I did call the second branch this morning to confirm everyone was alright.