I knew a good old boy who lived in our small town. Already twenty years ago, he told me how he was shooting the breeze with the teller at the bank, knowing each other, probably a lifetime. Then he asked to do, whatever he had come in for. She asked for I.D.. He couldn't believe it. THAT is what is wrong with banks, and has only gotten worse. Totally impersonal.
That is no doubt true, in general.
We have an incredible banking relationship.
We used to have a small regional bank. It got bought out and merged with a larger one. Customer service went downhill.
Then an acquaintance (we went to school together, a couple grades apart and she lived 1/4 mile down the road from me for a few of those years) approached me at a business networking event. We ended up moving all (except one HELoC) to them. That was about 5 years ago. I feel like a Customer, and the Customer is always Right, always Important, and the largest asset of the Bank.
OK, we have around 15 accounts with them (personal and several business checking, loans and mortgages), but the fact is, when I want a loan I simply email my friend and tell her how much I want and what it's for and she says "when should I come to your office to sign the paperwork?".
Also, granted, since we do have several loans/mortgages with them, we annually supply business tax returns, personal tax returns and personal financial statements. But, I have never worked with a bank that treated me this way. I honestly feel the way royalty must feel.
If you're in the VT/NH area, it would behoove you to check out Mascoma Bank.
(strangely, considering my story - we actually started with Connecticut Savings Bank, which was bought out/merged with Mascoma. But none of the Bad Stuff happened that you usually see with bank M&A)
