Bank branches are disappearing

hollydolly said:
we can't that's the whole point, eventually they wear you down so that we utlimately will only bank online. I do a lot of banking online as it is, but I really resent the fact that thi i all to do with going cashless... ..ultimately there will be no physical banks at all , and when they do that, there will be no cash and that when the government rules your life!...You do what you're told or the govt blocks your access to digital money...
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Is it still possible to access basic banking services through the postal system? 🤔
 

JBR said:
Besides, interacting with a drive-thru bank teller would probably be a non-starter, because of our winter months with cold temps and snow-layered streets. 🤨
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The drive-thru ATM is still popular. It’s rather funny seeing people hanging out of their car windows make a deposit or withdrawal.

bobcat said:
I think banks are in business to make money, plain and simple.
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That’s what it’s all about. Keeping a small branch open can be costly.

Basically, the rare times I go inside a bank, it’s just a lineup of seniors. Sometimes it’s folks doing business transactions; they get a separate clerk.
 

Today I sent all of my Christmas presents, 9 of them, by e-transfer. No charge for this. They have their funds to use as they wish immediately. Maybe by next year, they’ll have an automatic service so I can set up the transfers so they can all go at a set time the next day.
 
Canada has a different banking system - the 5 Big Banks that operate all across Canada. There are online banks that are affiliated with them. There are very few smaller bank chains, usually regionally specific like Quebec. There are also Credit Unions that are run by their members.
 
Bank branches, like the High Street in general, are done. They serve little purpose. Only the stragglers remain.

Cash is obsolete. Customer Service in 24/7 online. And the days of paying people to tell you what's in your account are done.
 
hollydolly said:
oh we in the Uk have been banking like that for many years, we can shift money from anywhere to anywhere without visiting a bricks and mortar building.. all from the comfort of our armchairs.. Apparently our banking system is the best in the world... except for having few literal banks
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I have been doing internal and external transfers online for over two decades now… nothing new in the US either.
 
What we consider as currency has been a rather interesting journey IMO. People just started out by bartering, but at least those things had intrinsic value, whether they were mules, clothing, or tools. However, it had problems. Both people had to want what the other had, or the trade fails. Also there was no standard. How many apples equals a goat, or how many apple pies equals a day's labor?

Eventually we went to the gold standard, and paper money was redeemable for gold. Then that was abandoned, but paper money that was silver certificates persisted and you could still redeem them for silver bullion. Then that was dropped as well later on. Even the silver dollar and other silver coins had less silver in them. Then after that we went to fiat currency.

Don't ask me why the government puts "In God We Trust" on currency, as it has nothing to do with God backing it's value, but by law, it's still there. Using printed money is just a social agreement that the government has adopted as legal tender. Now printed money is used far less, and now we have entered into an economic system of debits and credits.

To me, it seems like we are just transitioning from one form of economic social agreement to another, and the trust is still in the agreement and the government recognizing it as a means to conduct commerce. I think when people are less trusting of that, the price of gold goes up because people see it as a safe haven if the economy were to collapse.
 
bobcat said:
What we consider as currency has been a rather interesting journey IMO. People just started out by bartering, but at least those things had intrinsic value, whether they were mules, clothing, or tools. However, it had problems. Both people had to want what the other had, or the trade fails. Also there was no standard. How many apples equals a goat, or how many apple pies equals a day's labor?

Eventually we went to the gold standard, and paper money was redeemable for gold. Then that was abandoned, but paper money that was silver certificates persisted and you could still redeem them for silver bullion. Then that was dropped as well later on. Even the silver dollar and other silver coins had less silver in them. Then after that we went to fiat currency.

Don't ask me why the government puts "In God We Trust" on currency,
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that's only US money, no other country has that written on their money
 
I just had another amusing thought. If we eventually have a credit/debit system with no cash, what happens in church when the collection plate comes around. Will it be replaced with a scanner to do e-transfers or Venmo? Hmmmm.
 
bobcat said:
I just had another amusing thought. If we eventually have a credit/debit system with no cash, what happens in church when the collection plate comes around. Will it be replaced with a scanner to do e-transfers or Venmo? Hmmmm.
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Hardly any cash goes into the collections plate. Most are checks.
Funds are paid thru a bank's Bill Pay, or with an app, or disbursed via a DAF, etc. Those never see a collection plate,
 
That Lady in PA said:
Hardly any cash goes into the collections plate. Most are checks.
Funds are paid thru a bank's Bill Pay, or with an app, or disbursed via a DAF, etc. Those never see a collection plate,
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I wonder if eventually they may have a scanner at the entrance and you could just use a debit card and select the amount.
 
bobcat said:
I just had another amusing thought. If we eventually have a credit/debit system with no cash, what happens in church when the collection plate comes around. Will it be replaced with a scanner to do e-transfers or Venmo? Hmmmm.
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Many churches, mine included, stopped passing collection plates during the church service after covid came along. They have a lock box with a slot near the sanctuary entrance, and any who so desire may deposit an offering there. Other options are to mail a check, or give through the church website.

bobcat said:
It seems the religious sect of society has seen great change as well. In ancient days animals were brought into the tabernacle as payment, and now there are just electronic digital transfers.
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Just as animals, grain, shells, etc., were used in a system known as bartering before standardized currency emerged.
bobcat said:
I wonder if eventually they [churches] may have a scanner at the entrance and you could just use a debit card and select the amount.
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No, not eventually. The first on-site electronic giving options, such as kiosks in church lobbies that accepted debit/credit cards, were introduced around 2004.
 
bobcat said:
I wonder if eventually they may have a scanner at the entrance and you could just use a debit card and select the amount.
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I was imagining something similar. Scanners would be set every two feet apart on the back of the pews, complete with automatic suggestions on the amount to donate.
 
bobcat said:
I just had another amusing thought. If we eventually have a credit/debit system with no cash, what happens in church when the collection plate comes around. Will it be replaced with a scanner to do e-transfers or Venmo? Hmmmm.
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The Salvation Army kettle drive that sat at the front door of a store every Christmas was manned. Now they have a QR code tap system that’s available whenever the store is open. Minimum $5.

During peak times they also have a person beside the clear ball for cash donations. I didn’t notice as many ringing the bell this year.
 
MarciKS said:
on occasion when i can afford to do so i give to my online church via the computer.
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It does seem to be a more efficient way than the church collecting cash and having to go to the bank for deposits.
I'm sure some still prefer cash, but over time, it may be become a relic. Time will tell.
 
In our small town we have one small bank which once had a small car park surrounded by shady trees - they have not only removed all the branches but also all the trees!!
 

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