Editor, Haida Gwaii News
My friend, who is 85 years living, was asked for ID when he recently bought a pouch of smoking tobacco at Fields. Having lived here in the 70s, he gets it. On Haida Gwaii we march to the beat of a different accordion.
Every November he returns for six months. Today he planned to make a withdrawal from the bank machine at the Northern Savings Credit Union, in Masset, where I have accounts linked to my local business. I wasn’t able to accompany him, but he knows the lay of the land. I figured — what could go wrong?
He withdrew $100 in $20 bills. The bank machine did not allow him to withdraw $50 denominations, and he needed two $50 bills as he was sending my granddaughters $50 each for Christmas.
He entered the bank and waited in line, patiently. At first the teller told him there would be a $5 charge to change the $100 into two $50’s, but after consulting with one of her colleagues said she was unable to change the notes because my friend did not have an account at Northern Savings. My friend has an account with Innovation Federal Credit Union in Saskatchewan, where he now spends time when he can’t be in Masset.
Innovation Federal Credit Union is part of the ding free! ATM network, meaning its members can use like-minded credit union ATMs across Canada without paying surcharges. You would think this ding-free! policy might extend inside bank doors.
If Northern Savings were to be inundated by non-members requesting two $50 bills in exchange for $100 on a daily basis, I suppose it could become vexatious. But how often does this situation arise? If it is a persistent challenge, perhaps Northern Savings should consider recalibrating their bank machine so that citizens wishing to withdraw $100 in two $50’s wouldn’t have to waste more of their time by coming inside and patiently waiting in line, only to be told, ding! ding! no can do.
A sympathetic soul at the post office changed my friend’s bank notes. It’s what good people do. Help one another. No strings attached.
Susan Musgrave
Tow Hill Road
