Luckily not a big problem, but still it was unexpected and it's left me a bit annoyed.
Being pretty much ready to go, I was all set yesterday to do the final bit of banking I needed to handle before I left. Most of my money for this trip is on my Disney gift cards, but I wanted to keep a certain amount of cash on hand for things like tips and other small expenses that come up. I maintain a small passbook savings account at my local hometown bank. My normal checking account is at a large chain bank, but when I was opening up the savings account I wanted to keep them separate, and make it harder for me to get my hands on my savings account money. When I had both accounts at the same bank it was way to easy for me to just transfer money from one account to another (and it was never from the checking into the savings account). Keeping them separate, and keeping the savings account money difficult to access was part of my plan.
Can you see where this is headed?
I found out when I got home from work last night that my charming local bank no longer keeps the drive-thru open until 8pm. Nope. Every night now they close by 5 or 6pm.
I won't repeat any of the choice words I was muttering last night when I found out. I can't believe that they don't even have one late night. Who the blazes who works for a living anywhere outside of our town can get to the bank before 6pm. People work stupid bank! The bank only has branches is two different towns, so you have to work pretty close to be able to make it there during their hours now. Had they ever bothered to notify about the change in hours I would have gone while I was home on Tuesday to get my hands on my money.
When I get home I'm going to have to go close the account and move it to either one of the big chain places where they have offices in NYC, or to another local bank that's a bit bigger and has branches at some local grocery stores that are open late and on Sundays.
My problem is that now I'm low on cash. There is no way I'm going to be able to get my hands on the savings account money before I leave (I don't get home from work until nearly 7pm). Since it's the begining of the month, I don't have a lot of excess cash sitting around in my checking account. I was able to cash a personal check I was holding onto, and I'll be able to withdraw the money from my part-time job once it's direct deposited. I'm thinking that should be enough cash to have on-hand. I was hoping to have a bit more, but I'll just have to be careful. I'll just fill in with my credit card, and then using the savings account money when I get back.
I'm more irritated that they never bothered to let me know about the changes. The later availability at the drive-thru is was one of the reasons why I opened the account there even though they had few branches. I need to have some availability to my money!
A slightly deeper, scratchier voice, but it is a voice. What a relief!
I'll be watching for your TR when you (and we) get back!
Have fun!!!!
I can't wait to get down there.
I've been trying for several days and everytime I put in my information it tells me that the online system is down and to try later. Really annoying!
