by Matt Marquardt –
MASON CITY – John Choate resumed his crusade against the “big bank” Friday afternoon.
Choate had been in Mason City on Tuesday voicing his dissatisfaction with the service he received at a U.S. Bank branch, and he picked up where he left off on Friday.
“I’m back,” Choate said with a chuckle, waiving to people in cars passing by on South Washington Avenue at about 3 o’clock.
“The response is even better today,” he said. “Everyone’s real friendly, and several have shared with me stories like mine. Some told me how the bank took money out of their accounts for no reason.
“One man told me how they took 9 cents out of his account and he went in to complain (at a different U.S. Bank branch). He said they told him ‘it’s just 9 cents, why are you upset?'”
Choate explained that if the banks are taking “9 cents” or whatever small amount out of millions of peoples’ bank accounts, “that could be millions of dollars they are stealing.”
Choate started his day before noon at the U.S. Bank branch on South Illinois Avenue, “but there was a complaint and the Mason City police asked me to leave. The officer was very friendly.” Choate said he didn’t know who made the complaint.
He then came over to the downtown location, but couldn’t get his sign back where it was on Tuesday, directly in front of the bank.
“The employees have been parking there all day. One leaves and another pulls right in, and they go inside the bank to work.”
A woman passing by in a blue SUV stopped to chat with Choate and say that she, too, has had issues at U.S. Bank with a checking account.
“They take the big check withdrawal first, then the small ones, and if they can get you with a fee on all those, they do it.” she explained.
When asked if this is the end of the line with his sign and voicing his concerns at U.S. Bank, Choate said “No. Nope. I’m not done at all. I’ve got plans but I can’t talk about them now. I hope to get some federal government involvement.”
Watch video:
httpv://youtu.be/eeWT0SFv-T4
“Sweet Boys”, grandma Jean? Those boys have been in trouble since they could walk and talk because their mother is a drug addict and now the taxpayers have to pay their “room and board”. Your attitude is why they are criminals, open your eyes and wake up and try to get them some help if you care for them. You are to blame also for thinking they are just sweet boys. How ignorant you are! They are both headed for prison for the rest of their lives.
If you can’t park there, neither can their customers. Dorks.
John,
Keep doing what you need to do! The only reason that the employees parked where you put your sign is because they know they were in the wrong, and this is their way to “stick it to you” so you can’t park there. I believe you could park along side the bank or better yet, across the street with your sign and an arrow pointing to the bank. It’s the principal of the matter! Keep up the good work! Thank you for doing what so many of us want to do, but don’t.
Banks can charge for just about anything they want to. If you don’t like them, keep your cash under your mattress and risk loss by fire or theft.
Way to go John! Wish we all had the time and engery to make a stand.
Park in front of First Citizens, Farmers State Bank, Community National, NSB they charge a fee also…I think you are forgetting a bank is a private for profit business. I see your point but they have the right to charge.
I went to a bank to cash a check that was drawn on the bank.
I do not have an account with the bank and they refused to cash the check. Can it do this?
Yes.
There is no federal law or regulation that requires national banks to cash checks for noncustomers. Most banks have policies that allow check cashing services only for customers who have an account with them in order to protect both themselves and their customers from forgeries.
Once a national bank cashes a check that has been forged by a noncustomer, they may lose money if they cannot collect from the person who cashed the check. Also, if a national bank agrees to cash a check for a noncustomer, it may legally charge the presenter a fee.
How about you just get a job instead of wasting your time.