I've spent years of my life trying to be better at something. I've always wanted to excel at something, to find a purpose. But no matter what I do, there is always someone out there who is better then me. It's disheartening to find out that I can't win.
That I'm just another average person seeking nothing important to anyone else.
Problems can arise at the very heart of everybody's life. I don't get stressed out often enough to really focus on them. I find more hope in just discovering who I am and what I was put here for. On an ironic note, most people have problems with money. They never have enough to suit their needs.
Me, money is good to help keep you occupied. It helps to keep you alive and sheltered from any storms that happen to appear over the horizon. But it's not enough to make you happy.
Just ask those fools that come into the bank I work at. There are literally hundreds of people who have thousands of dollars in their account. Do they spend it? No. It sits in a bank and gathers moss. And when they die, they can get to wherever they're going and tell whoever or whatever crosses their paths, that at least they had money. That is the important thing.
I want something else. I could not care less about how much money I die with or how much time I spend making it. I enjoy the path much more than the reward.
For example, the people I work with are incredibly talented, funny, and easy to talk to. They never fail to make me smile at least once a day (and some days it's just not that easy of a task!) If I could cut out the customers I deal with and just work with them, it would be the perfect job.
Now your asking why I want to cut out the customers? Well for starters, they are a picky bunch of people. The human race would like for you to not ask questions and just hand out money to anyone, even if they're not who they say they are. For anyone who goes through a drive thru at the bank I have a few advice tips I'd like to hand out.
1. The buzzer may be handy for you, but remember that we hear that sound at least a hundred times in one day. It tends to give you a headache after about the ninth time. Another buzzer tip, don't hold down the button! That technology went out about 20 years ago. These days we have what is know as a two-way microphone. Once turned on it from the stationary end (teller side) you can talk until the teller turns it off.
2. Preparation is something that is incredibly handy. Have your transaction ready. Have a deposit slip, withdrawal slip, or check. Have a pen. If any of those things are not in your possession, then send in an empty tube and wait for the teller to ask you what you need.
3. Don't get mad a teller for following policy. We have VERY strict guidelines that we have to follow. We walk a very fine line between making you happy and getting fired. If we don't follow the rules given to us, we get fired. If we are required to gather information and don't, we get fired. Our jobs are on a thin thread and we have no idea if we will be employed from one day to the next. Same goes, count your money before you leave. We all make mistakes, and that extra $20 we sent out was one of them. Please send it back in. You'll feel better in the long run (because you won't be a thief) and who knows. You may even get something back that shows our appreciation. No, it probably won't be money. But guaranteed it will keep your conscience from bugging you as much.
4. Please try not to take out your frustrations on us. So you're having a bad day? Well, try and think of it this way. We could be having a lousy day and we still have to smile and thank you. We manage to do it if you're yelling, mad, or snippy. Try to show us the same courtesy. Know that if you begin cussing at us. We'll cut you off. The microphone will get shut down and more than likely you'll end up with your banker calling and asking you not to go back to that same location. We don't enjoy abuse anymore than you do. In fact we still thank you and move on to the next person in line.
BTW, jokes are allowed. We enjoy a good laugh as much as you do. Just don't take it to far.
5. If you need help with something. ASK. We spend more time sending papers in and out then we do actually running transactions. All because someone was afraid to ask for our help on doing something they didn't know how. Another thing that kinda goes with this. Read your deposit slip. If it says cash, then DON'T list a check in that area. Read and see the difference between cash back and total. Remember, everything you place in the wrong area has to be fixed and initialed by you. Which in turn, has us sending out the deposit slip sometimes up to three times per customer.
6. ID's are a good thing to have with you. Even if you are only asking for $5 back there are times when we still need an ID. Imagine that most of the fraud that goes on is for the inane amounts of under $100. An ID can help to clear up any doubt about whether or not you can get money back. If we have to ask for it, it just takes longer.
7. Remember that there are not always a lot of people working in that small back room. Sometimes it will take up to ten minutes to get your deposit done. Not only do we have everyday regular customers…but we have businesses as well. These businesses can bring in large amounts of cash and we have to count it all. Which in turn keeps one of us from helping regular customers. If there are only two people back there, then one is working on a business. I can guarantee that. Also think of this on the days that you seem to be waiting an extraordinary amount of time. When that happens take a look to the left, right, and in front of you. If you see another car in any of those positions, it means that we are going as fast as we can. You'll get your receipt in the order it was sent in. No sooner.
8. If you're in a hurry, don't go to the bank. There may be some times when we have to verify information or get approval for one of our transactions. It takes a little while for both of those instances. You telling us you're in a rush only causes us to look more closely at the item. More fraud is committed by people who are in a hurry.
9. (If you write fanfic, work at retail, or deal with a lot of customers you'll understand this) If you feel that you get good service, send us a comment card. Those cards help the managers to see that we really are nice to most folks. If you feel that someone was rude to you, same goes. Most folks aren't really being rude to you on your bad days. It just seems that way because you're in a bad mood. I know that I truly do try to make everyone who comes to my window feel at ease and happy to be coming to me for their transactions. I have customers that do ask for me by name, yet very few of them take the time to jot down a quick note on any of this. Mostly because I work in the drive thru. We do have comment cards back there. Just ask for them. We'll be happy to send one out to you. Heck, I'll even give you the buzzer option back to call for one.
10. Last but not least, just because you come into the bank once a week doesn't mean we know you. You want that privilege; take us out for a beer. We run at least 150 transactions a day and you are just one of many of the people on the face of this earth. After about 20 minutes everyone looks the same. We can all truly say we know only certain people. The ones who we know are the ones that conceived us, the ones we conceived, and the ones we grew up with. Don't expect us to vouch for you if we only see you in the bank from time to time. Don't expect to come in and say "So and so knows me what do you need an ID for?" More than likely you'll get. "I'm sorry, but it's our policy." You're our customer, not our best friend.
Well, I hope this helps you. Not sure how…lol. So, I work at a bank. Yeah, I need to feed and cloth myself. I need to live my life to the fullest, and to do that requires working. But what it comes down to…
Money is only after all, money. Paper made however important you make it.