Sometimes I Just Don’t Want to Be Trusted
This morning I engaged in a routine business transaction. In a few short moments, I gained a valuable insight into the world of 21st century privacy and identity matters, an insight that I now feel compelled to share.
The setting was as follows:
The setting was as follows:I currently have bank accounts at three financial institutions, two of which are located in Galion, and one in another Ohio city. The latter account was established some ten or so years ago when I was commuting to work and wanted easy access to deposited funds. As I now do most banking via phone or even more so online, the fact that the third bank is located 45 minutes away is not typically an issue; on rare occasions, however, I find myself in need of making a trip to bank in person. This morning was such an occasion.
I entered the bank, filled out a simple withdrawal form with my account number and signature affixed, and walked out two minutes later with cash in my pocket. So what’s the problem, you ask? That’s exactly the transaction I entered to complete, after all.
Here’s the thing – at no time during that transaction was I asked for identification. Not once.
The ramifications are obvious. I do not keep large sums of money in that bank, but that is not the point. The point is that what funds I do have there are entirely at risk.
Some weeks back another of my banks – and this one I will name – Galion Building & Loan Bank – initiated a policy of having account holders’ drivers licenses scanned. When a teller there receives a request for funds over the counter, he or she can now compare that photo to the individual before them. Granted all of us naturally change our appearance over time... the new hairdo or moustache… but still this policy provides an extra measure of security for their customers’ protection.
Rather than see this as a hindrance, I am thrilled with GBLB’s policy, even more so after today. Guess where the other bank’s deposits are heading in the near future?
In this day and age, identity theft is rampant. Sometimes, however, it is avoidable by simple and common-sense precautions. Become informed about the identification policies where your money is kept, and stay alert.
Just something I wanted to share this evening…
I entered the bank, filled out a simple withdrawal form with my account number and signature affixed, and walked out two minutes later with cash in my pocket. So what’s the problem, you ask? That’s exactly the transaction I entered to complete, after all.
Here’s the thing – at no time during that transaction was I asked for identification. Not once.
The ramifications are obvious. I do not keep large sums of money in that bank, but that is not the point. The point is that what funds I do have there are entirely at risk.
Some weeks back another of my banks – and this one I will name – Galion Building & Loan Bank – initiated a policy of having account holders’ drivers licenses scanned. When a teller there receives a request for funds over the counter, he or she can now compare that photo to the individual before them. Granted all of us naturally change our appearance over time... the new hairdo or moustache… but still this policy provides an extra measure of security for their customers’ protection.
Rather than see this as a hindrance, I am thrilled with GBLB’s policy, even more so after today. Guess where the other bank’s deposits are heading in the near future?
In this day and age, identity theft is rampant. Sometimes, however, it is avoidable by simple and common-sense precautions. Become informed about the identification policies where your money is kept, and stay alert.
Just something I wanted to share this evening…
1
Comment
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Comment by Anthony on November 11, 2010 at 12:23pm -
How times have changed.
One thing I think is so stupid, if you want to deposit rolled quarters say for those that do, the bank I go to requires you to put your name and account number on the rolls. Ask for rolled money out the bank, then they give you ones that have peoples names and account numbers on them.
Asked about the stupidity of this, get blank stares.
If they didn't have so many ATM machines I'd walk.
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Comment by ThomasP on November 11, 2010 at 10:09am -
Actually, it does. A bank can require account holders to provide a state-issued ID to open an account -- and Ohio has no minimum age for issuance of an Ohio Identification Card.
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Comment by Anthony on November 11, 2010 at 9:02am
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This is all fine and dandy, does not address a 15 year old that has an account somewhere.
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Comment by RUSSELL HENKEL on November 11, 2010 at 8:22am -
I THINK I HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THAT ID UP AT GALION BUILDING& LOAN,I WENT IN ONE DAY AND DID LIKE YOU ,FILL OUT A DEPOSIT SLIP AND GOT MY MONEY,AND I ASK THE TELLER [THEY KNOW ME AND I KNOW THEM] HOW DID YOU KNOW THAT WAS ME THAT WANTED THAT WITHDRAWL,SHE AND LINDA SCHEFFER STATED AT THE TIME THEY WERE LOOKING INTO THIS ID SYSTEM,AN LOW AND BEHOLD I WENT IN ONE DAY AND THEY SCANNED MY DRIVER LICENSES AND I WAS GOOD TO GO,ALSO IF YOU USE AN ATM ALWAYS USE THE ONE AT YOUR BANK ONLY AND LOOK AT IT TO SEE IF THERE IS ANYTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT IT, CROOKS CAN PUT A CARD READER IN ATM SLOT THAT WILL READ ALL YOUR INFORMATION FROM YOUR CARD, AND TRY TO USE ATM DURING BANKING HOURS OR DAYLIGHT,CROOKS COULD BE PARKING IN LOT WITH CAMERA TRYING TO TAKE PICTURE OF YOU WHEN YOU TYPE YOUR ID NUMBERS IN. KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN AT ALL TIMES. BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU BUY GIFT CARDS,CROOKS GO INTO STORES AND SCAN THOSE AND PUT MONEY IN THEM THEN USE MONEY RIGHT AWAY THEN THE CARDS ARE USELESS,MAKE SURE YOU ASK FOR GIFT CARD AND THEY ARE UNDER THE COUNTER AT STORES.
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Comment by Steven Kemle-Marcum on November 11, 2010 at 7:19am -
Did you know...most retailers no longer want to see your ID? Scary, huh?!
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