by Matt Marquardt –
MASON CITY – A Mason City man asked NIT to look into a policy of his credit union which requires its customers to remove hats and sunglasses before it will complete a transaction.
Nick Hodak has been a long-time Mercy Family Credit Union (MFCU) member. He wanted to withdraw a large sum of money in cash from his account there, but MFCU told him he would have to come back in a few days to get his money.
Hodak was further troubled by MFCU’s policy that requires its customers to remove hats and sunglasses before it will complete a transaction.
Hodak asked NIT to observe his attempt to withdraw cash from MFCU. He was able to get his cash a little earlier than he thought and take it home on his first attempt after they had told him it would be a few days before he could get his money. He was asked to remove his hat and sunglasses before being served. The teller explained that MFCU had been robbed in the past and that this was their policy.
MFCU CEO John Sherrick told NIT that the policy is in place for several reasons.
“It’s a protective measure,” Sherrick said. “A safety precaution. We would rather err on the side of safety.”
Sherrick said that when a customer wears shades, it may be difficult to tell if they are in an “inebriated state” or in a disguise. He said his employees should be able to “look our customers in the eye. We treat others with respect, and we expect the same from our customers.”
NIT contacted another local credit union and several local banks to check on their policies towards hats and sunglasses worn by customers as they attempt to do business.
Iowa Heartland Community Credit union said “We have no policy on that. We make every effort to ensure the safety of our customers.”
Wells Fargo Bank Manager Reid Peterson referred out questions to a higher ranking official, who said “Checked on this. We do not have such a policy in place.”
A U.S. Bank official also confirmed that there is no policy in place there regarding hats and sunglasses worn by customers.
Heck…. even the beer vendors at the Twins game yesterday asked patrons to remove their hats and sunglasses so that they could verify them with their ID’s. They were too thirsty to argue with the vendor!!
Oh… and the announcer at the beginning of the game says… “Ladies and gentlemen, please rise and remove your hats for the singing of OUR National Anthem…. ” I didn’t see a single person with their hat still on….
If you can’t take your hat and sunglasses off for a few seconds, you’re pathetic!!
WHINER BE PROUD OF THAT TELLER JOB WELL DONE I WOULD HOPE ALL BANKS AND CREDIT UNIONS WOULD ID ME AND MAKE ME TAKE OF SUNGLASSES EVEN IF ITS NOT THERE POLICY PROTECT YOUR STAFF… AND STOP THE FRADSTERS….. DONT GO TO CREDIT UNION OR BANK WITHOUT ID AND TAKE OF SUNGLASSES AND THEN DONT WHINE ABOUT IT BE HAPPY
REALLY YOUR GONNA COMPLAIN BECAUSE YOU WERE ASKED TO TAKE OF YOUR SUBGLASSES? I BET YOU WOULD BE THANKINGE TELLER IF A IMPRESONATOR WAS IN THERE BEING YOU AND STOP THE FRAUD… YOU SHOULD BE GRATEFUL THE TELLER DID HER JOB THE WAY SHE WAS TO… YOUR GONNA WITHDRAWL A LARGE AMOUNT GET YOUR ID OUT AND TAKE OFF THE SUNGLASSES PROTECT YOUR IDENITY AND NOT BE A VICTIM OF FRAUD.. AND WELL FARGO COMMENT YOU SHOULD BE ASKING A CUSTOMER TO TAKE OFF THERE SUNGLASSES ITS A SAFETY THING AND IF I BANKED THERE I WOULD EXPECT TO BE ASKED TO PROVIDE ID AND TAKE OFF GLASSES AND BANK OF AMERICA SAME TO YOU PROTECT YOUR EMPLOYEES THE DONT GET PAID ENOUGH TO BE TREATED AS IF THEY CANT PROTECT THERESELVES FROM CUSTOMER IMPRSENATORS .. TO THE TELLER WHO DID THE JOB CORRECT JOB WELL DONE … SO REMEMBER WHEN YOU GO TO A BANK OR CREDIT UNION BE POLITE TAKE OFF SUNGLASSES AND PROVIDE YOUR ID AND POSSIBLY SWIPE THAT DEBIT CARD FOR A ID TO MY BANK DOES THAT AND ALL THE CUSTOMERS WAITING TO SEE A TELLER WILL HAVE ID AND DENIT CARD IN HAND TO PROVIDE TO TELLER …. YOU SHOULD APOLOGIZE TO THE TELLER SHE DID NOTHING WRONG.. AWESOME JOB MERCY CREDIT UNION!!!
The VFW in Mason City is absoultely open to the public, I used to work there…they are like most VFW’s you are suppose to sign in but no one does…pretty sure you are still suppose to take your hat off in Clear Lake, just not enforced
I can see leaving a hat on, it’s part of my work uniform actually, but sunglasses don’t need to be worn indoors unless you have just had an eye procedure or medical reason.
Really? It is such a hassle to take your hat and sunglasses off that you have to have an “investigation” ?? Your a whiner…simple as that. I have had nothing but great service with that credit union. I repeat…..YOUR A WHINER. I sure wish my life was so great that I could start bitching about trivial crap..I repeat again…YOUR A WHINER
Wow you people amaze me! A place of business wants to make their employees feel more safe and their customers and all you guys can talk about how unfair it is.
Good job with the article Matt! Thank you for being fair and honest with the story!
Good job, John and Staff!
That bank is worthless just like the CITY WORKERS of river city… how do u get a job for the city Mark??? tell me ez money!!!!
Where have you folks been? Every bank I have been in for the past 1.5 years (if not longer) has that policy.
You should be so lucky your bank looks out for your best interests. Ever have your account hacked? All you money taken? And then deal with folks who cannot grasp the English language in order to resolve it? Without those security protections, which are common thought out most of the country, how will your bank keep things secure?
And yes Anonymous (at 4:04 pm), courtesy today has been thrown out the window in favor of crass, crude, and course behavior. Too many men today would rather let the door slam behind them in a woman’s face than hold it open for them. And too many women curse at those men who display that simple courtesy.
And don’t get me started about those who throw money at clerks and cashiers they way they would a cheap hooker.
No problem with removing my hat and glasses at the bank. Wearing a hat at a public place is not disrespectful. If Iam rude, crude or abnoxious then tell me so and I will apologize. Many of the people who think this is rude live in the past, many of these people think a womans place is in the kitchen barefoot and pregnant. Men would break out the dueling pistols because they felt their honor had been questioned, should we bring that back in style? Everyone has the right to be offended but I have the right to disagree.
Why would anyone want the public to know he was withdrawing a large sum of money and was taking it home? That is an invitation for a theif. In addition the IRS would be interested in large sums of money as to its orgin. Not smart.
Just watch, now that Nick has drawn attention to himself, somebody is going to put on a hat and sunglasses and steal his money. Then Nick will complain loudly because no witnesses can identify the thief, because the hat and sunglasses obscured his face.
It’s for your own protection, Nick! They just wanted to make certain it was you taking your money, not somebody else!
Think about it…you are bank teller…you obviously don’t recognize a long time customer. I would have asked to remove his hat and sunglasses. On top of this he wanted a large sum of money.
I agree with anonymous
For most of the complainers about the policies, it all about “ME! ME! ME!” “I am the most important person in the world and if you don’t like it, tough luck.” It is rather disgusting.
Removing your hat is common courtesy, or it used to be. When you go into a VFW or American Legion post, you better be darn sure to remove your hat or you will probably be asked to remove it. With a woman with cancer that’s wearing a hat, I think that’s a bit different. But when a man has on a hat, they should remove it. Let’s try to get back some common manners that we don’t see anymore.
I was at the clear lake VFW with my hat on sunday night. No one asked me to remove my hat. If they don’t want my money thats fine I will go somewhere else. I remove my hat during the national athem I see nothing wrong with wearing a hat any other time.
The Clear Lake VFW is open to the public, so the no hat rule is not enforced. The VFW in Mason City requires a membership, and the rule is enforced.
See, there you go showing your ignorance.
Im sorry, but what happened to good matters? or is our society so far gone that we don’t even remember them anymore? when u walk in to a place you should take your hat and sunglasses off. Second in a bank it is for your protection. make sure they can tell it is you. Think a little bit. Why make such a big fuss about it. Go to a restaurant and just listen. How many times will you hear people burping? Manners in todays society are gonne and i for one am sorry to see that.
If your unhappy with your credit union, or bank, check out the North Iowa Credit union, more friendly faces there…Jim
People would rather complain than do anything about it. Move your money.
your first problem is ITS MERCY enuff said.
second i call horse hockey on US BANK on that one they have a BIG SIGN at the doorway that tells you to remove your hat and glasses.
would they ask a blind person to remove their glasses ? would they ask someone who has lost their hair from getting cancer treatments to remove their hats? also I have had medications that make me appear to be under the influence, so would they refuse to give me my money just because I “appeared” to be under the influence?