Small-town banks

[Rafter S]

The other discussion about small -town cafes got me to thinking about banks. I've been a customer at the same bank since 1977. It changed hands a number of times back in the 1980's, and it's now a branch of one of the big national banks, but it was a classic small town bank before that.

The vice -president was a good guy. I remember a time or two when I'd call him and tell him I'd had a wreck and needed some money to get a truck. He'd say "Okay. Find what you want and write a check for it, then stop by the bank and we'll take care of the paperwork". He didn't really know me that well, but he'd known my father for years, and that was good enough.

Another time my wife and I wanted to borrow some money to buy and remodel an old farmhouse. My father agreed to co -sign for us, and we put up our cattle and some of his for collateral. The vp said he'd call to set up a time to come look at the cows to verify. He never got around to doing that. We'd told him how many cows we had, and where they were, and that was good enough.

I haven't borrowed money in a long time, but I don't imagine many of them operate that way anymore.

 

[Red Bull Breeder]

Pretty much a thing of the past Rafter.

 

[kenny thomas]

I have not borrowed in several years either but I hear a lot of stories. A young cousin recently told me he would like to buy a small piece of land but hated to deal with his current bank. I told him I would make a phone call. I called and they gave him a time to come in and sign the papers. He could not believe banks still done that. He kept asking me "what if" questions. I told that the bank is there to help him and not take advantage of him. Again that was strange to him. Times are changing I guess.

 

[greybeard]

Pretty much a thing of the past Rafter.

Not yet--not here anyway. The one thing I can no longer do that I used to be able to is send someone else to the bank with a deposit. Federal rules regarding money laundering stopped that at my bank, but pretty much everything else I can still do with a phone call.

 

[tom4018]

We bank at a home town owned bank. It is nice to go in there and see someone that knows you. On the down side they are not very competitive on interest rates they pay or charge.

 

[Craig Miller]

Im face book friends with my banker. Lol. Never knew him beforw i started using them.They arent always as good on interest as the credit union i also use but he always pulls up their rates and suggest i go there to borrow to save some money. I never do tbough. I vladly pay a little extra for a service like that. And its owned by a farmer.

 

[Deepsouth]

We have a small town bank. I sleep with the vice president. :cowboy:

 

[Bigfoot]

Years ago, when I worked at a bank, I predicted that a bank would someday be a thing of the past. I guess I missed that one.

 

[kenny thomas]

We have a small town bank. I sleep with the vice president. :cowboy:

How hard is it for you to get a loan there? :banana:

 

[wacocowboy]

I use one of the local credit unions, the local bank has to many fees.

 

[jedstivers]

I have not borrowed in several years either but I hear a lot of stories. A young cousin recently told me he would like to buy a small piece of land but hated to deal with his current bank. I told him I would make a phone call. I called and they gave him a time to come in and sign the papers. He could not believe banks still done that. He kept asking me "what if" questions. I told that the bank is there to help him and not take advantage of him. Again that was strange to him. Times are changing I guess.

What Kenny isn't telling is he must own the bank. He's a heck of a cow trader.

 

[kenny thomas]

I have not borrowed in several years either but I hear a lot of stories. A young cousin recently told me he would like to buy a small piece of land but hated to deal with his current bank. I told him I would make a phone call. I called and they gave him a time to come in and sign the papers. He could not believe banks still done that. He kept asking me "what if" questions. I told that the bank is there to help him and not take advantage of him. Again that was strange to him. Times are changing I guess.

What Kenny isn't telling is he must own the bank. He's a heck of a cow trader.

Not yet. :hide:
But I do buy cows and calves for members of the board of directors. Gotta keep them happy.

 

[crossbredcalves]

I'm very lucky that my bank still operates with some of that older mentality. I wanted to buy a truck back in December, so I called the loan officer, told him what I found and what I wanted. He told me to write the check and then come see him and we'd do paperwork. He did the same when I wanted to buy a group of calves a couple years ago. I have friends that use other banks in town, and they can't believe it works that way. One friend took a month to get things lined out to buy a car. I have built a relationship with the loan man through different loans, always paying on time, etc., so we work together well.

 

[Named'em Tamed'em]

We have a small town bank. I sleep with the vice president. :cowboy:

Probably easier to make a deposit! :hide:

 

[Jogeephus]

I do business with a small bank. All I need do is make a phone call and we worry about the other details later.

 

[highgrit]

Screw the banks. If anyone is interested look up Riverside National Bank of Florida. We took a beating on that one. When things seem to good to be true, most of the time they are.

 

[TexasBred]

I have my personal account with a small local bank. Wife uses credit union. Was having a beer with the bank president a couple of months ago at the local convenience store and we got to talking about banking ingeneral. Told him I still used checks and reconciled my bank statement etc. He recommended I get me a "debit" card. Wife has had one for years but being old fashioned I just prefer writing a check. Anyway, I asked him "Is there a monthly charge for having a debit card"?? He looked at me, smiled and said "It's a flicking bank ain't it"!!!!! About fell out of my chair laughing.

 

[TexasBred]

Screw the banks. If anyone is interested look up Riverside National Bank of Florida. We took a beating on that one. When things seem to good to be true, most of the time they are.

Unless you owned stock you didn't lose a penny. It's normal for stockholders to lose in bank failures.

Account(s): What about my account with Riverside National Bank of Florida?

If you had an account with Riverside National Bank of Florida, you now have an account with TD Bank, N.A., Wilmington, DE. All deposit accounts, which include checking, savings, money market, CDs and retirement accounts, have been transferred to TD Bank, N.A., regardless of the dollar amount. No one lost any money on deposit in Riverside National Bank of Florida.

 

[bigbull338]

we have done business with our local bank over 70yrs.loved the days when you could call and tell them what you was going todo and they would ask how much do you need.my old banker was that way.id call her up and im going todo so and so and she would say fine.do you want to come in or want me to send the papers to you.last time i traded tractors she wasnt in so i talked to her sec and done the deal.i have yet to meet my new loan man though.

 

[highgrit]

We only lost the majority of our retirement. I know first hand how the stockholder deal works. I was a Riverside millionaire, just didn't sell when I should have. GREEDY