I went to the bank today. That may not sound like a big deal, but I realized after I left that it was probably the first time I’ve been inside a bank in about six months.
It still looked the same. Several teller windows, but only a couple of tellers working. Pens chained down to the table where they keep the deposit slips. Still as quiet as a library.
Thanks to technology, I’m able to manage by checking and savings accounts without ever actually going to the bank. Nearly all of the banking I do these days is tied, in some way, to a computer.
For instance, I haven’t seen an actual pay check for years. I have it deposited directly into my checking account and, on pay day, the money magically appears. I was leery of direct deposit at first, but now I can’t imagine getting paid any other way.
I seldom ever see any of my money, either. I seldom, if ever, write a check anymore. It used to be a huge chore to pay bills. I had write out checks, tear off the bill stub, stuff it all in an envelope, stick a stamp on it and mail it.
Today, with a few clicks on the computer, I pay the power bill, the credit card bill and any other bills that are due. It’s very convenient, and I can sit around in my underwear and pay bills, if that’s what I want to do.
I don’t even have to go to the bank to deposit checks anymore. A friend recently wrote me a check for some football tickets I bought for him. Using my bank’s phone app, I took a photo of the front and back of the check, and a day later the money was in my account.
I do sometimes miss the days of taking an actual pay check into the bank and handing it to a teller.
“Deposit this into my account, please,” I say to the teller, whom we’ll call LouAnne.
LouAnne takes the check and gives me a receipt indicating that she has, in fact, deposited my money into my account.
“Thank you for banking with us,” Beth says with a smile.
I liked dealing with tellers. It’s more personal that way. Computers don’t have much emotion. I don’t get so much as a sound from my bank’s website, much less a thank you, when I pay a bill.
I also like the fact that if, for some reason, my money doesn’t get deposited, I can go back to the bank and demand that LouAnne tell what she did with my money.
Of course, I run the risk of finding out when I get to the back that LouAnne has taken my money and run off with her fiance to Aruba.
But at least I know where my money is. With computers doing all of my banking these days, I’m baffled as to what really happens to my money. All I really know is that one minute, my money is safe in my account. Then, with a push of a button, Georgia Power has my money.
My greatest fear is that the people at my bank don’t understand what happened, either. I won’t get too worried, though, unless I overhear one of them talking about taking a trip to Aruba.
I think for old-time sake, I’m going to look for an excuse to take a check into my bank and deposit it.
It’ll be a touch of nostalgia, and that’s always fun.
