Relationship Banking

It started with a CHIP CLIP.

The engagement with a new retail bank in my neighborhood. I wanted to benefit from some service they had to offer and as we sat down to get the paperwork out of the way, I was greeted with a bank branded Chip Clip.

Asked as to the relevance of it to our transaction I was explained that it was a welcome gift and something I can lovingly enjoy over time. Really?

A bag of the good stuff (chips) would have made me fall more in love with the bank than a CLIP that assumed I would buy chips. Bad Move I thought.

Not to mention that the retarded process still involves paper enough to destroy 1 Tall Pine, with the applications and the T&C filled bumpf that they want you to take for bedside reading.

Why can they not swipe my Driver Lic or some other form of transaction device (think Cr or Debit card); which each American has more than their fair share of - and get the damn app filled in?

But no, its all about the relationship as you banter and get to know how many kids of what sizes your bank manager has.

Don't get me wrong, the manager was a sweet and friendly lady who wanted to ensure we got our accounts open and a few more transactors added to her brand's database. During the course of this hour long ritual she also took some time to telephonically check in with her better half (without any qualms) and decided to give him a piece of her mind too.

All in all a strange experience in a new relationship.

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