I sure have. Since the supposed pandemic whose numbers growingly call into question the harsh procedures put into place, banks were one of the few approved necessary businesses we saw shut their doors. I bank with not one, but two of the larger bank monopolies here in the US and they still have their branches shut.
I searched on one of their sites yesterday, and no branch within seventeen miles (that's the furthest their locater will look) has reopened yet.
During this same time, I have received several emails urging me to utilize online banking.
Urging me to download their spying app onto my phone, for "my convenience" it argues.
I even got an email pitching me to open a savings account, and if I put in and maintain a minimum of 5000.00 they won't even charge me for handing it to them. I felt like yet again I've fallen into some Bizarro world. I mean, its bad enough they are able to take the money I do have in their bank and create 90% of it (last figure I've read) to lend to others. Using that math, if I was to deposit say 4000.00 in their bank, they would legally be able to create an additional 3600.00 to loan out against that. This gets even more shady if (as is likely) the loan is to one of their own customers who will in some way deposit that money back into their bank allowing more of this money creation.
The funniest email I received was the one (same bank) telling me that I should stop using cash because debit is not only safer, its...drumroll please...you guessed it..."more convenient" for keeping track of purchases. I really laughed at that one, because it's pretty easy to reach for my wallet and discover if it has money in it or not. No need to call the bank (would have said drive down there, but they closed their doors to us) and spend all that time listening to their automated spiel talking about all kinds of Covid stuff that has nothing to do with me (or most people).
The other bank I deal with will only talk to you on the phone if someone stole your identity. They don't want to even pay people to talk on the phone to you.
I was muttering to myself yesterday after searching for a branch and coming up empty, what if I wanted to close my account? Is it even possible? I know they used to demand you do it in person at one of the branches.
Now there is supposedly a shortage on coins due to the pandemic. Evidently the Federal Reserve is rationing them out to the banks and telling them what they will do with them Gee, I wonder who the banks will give them to.
So be prepared to have your purchases rounded up (even if it was an even dollar amount, still got taxes coming). Item costs 5.35 because the tax of .35, no way will they let that tax slide. Orrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
You can always use debit. It's more convenient. Hmmmm
On a side note, we have a fellow Hivian (is that even a word?) who needs help. He's been a true leader in the Family Protection group here, raffling off several times silver coins in exchange for donations to . This time he finds his own family the target as they eyeball his niece. You can read about it here.
@article61/my-family-s-struggle-against-cps-and-forced-adoption
He understandably doesn't want his niece being funneled through the foster care system, and worst case scenario wants to petition the courts for legal guardianship to ensure this child remains with family who love her.
His post on the raffle is here, or I reblogged it yesterday on my feed.
@article61/come-join-the-silver-raffle-and-help-raise-funds-for-a-great-cause
It is heartbreaking that he is raffling off another coin in this situation. He has been here reaching into his own pocket time and again to support this project. I’m hopeful that whomever wins the coin will donate it to his fight honestly.
I first came across him a couple years ago, shortly after I discovered the Family Protection project here. I was enamored with the work that the project does, not only in educating victims targeted by the CPS apparatus, but often helping them to afford basic needs like diapers, food and such. It was humbling for me to witness and be invited to help a structure based from love and consent. A true display that none of us need wait to participate in a voluntary manner to help our brothers and sisters.
Sadly, often times those who are targeted by agencies such as CPS are struggling financially. Not a good position to begin with, but especially disastrous when the government has placed their focus on you and you now have to worry with what rights you have on top of whats for dinner tonight for the kids.
Enter . If I had to pick one word to describe him, it would be a leader. Someone who, even when the chips are down, wants to step up to the plate and help ease the burden of another.
There have been many of us who have contributed rewards and upvoted to the Family Protection Project. has done this and much more. He has reached into his own pocket on multiple occasions and raffled off silver coins, the entry cost being donations to the project. Not only paying out of his pocket for these coins, but to ship them to the winners as well.
- Raffle one
@article61/and-the-winner-of-the-1st-familyprotection-silver-raffle-is
- Raffle Two
@article61/and-the-winner-of-the-2nd-familyprotection-silver-raffle-is
- Raffle Three. I’m including extra links. He was being evicted during this raffle, and still wanted to help this project enough to part with the coins and eat the shipping. He also gave away some Steem monster cards Gold foil.
@article61/evicted-23-days-to-find-a-home
@article61/evicted-moving-day-reflections
This one was especially meaningful for me, as one of my entries was the winner of the coin, and was sent to another quiet yet generous member of the community, . Here is his post holding the coin up after he received it.
- Raffle Four
@article61/and-the-winner-of-the-4th-fundraising-raffle-for-familyprotection-is
This one also was special for me, as one of my entries won again and the coin went to one of those families I was talking about. A mother in OUR community needing help.
I hate I don't write a lot anymore. I used to participate heavily in his raffles, and it saddens me that I don't have the fluid rewards to do so this time. So it hit me last night that I need to write and name him as the beneficiary. I'm hopeful that not only will he have a large participation in his raffle, but that others too might either donate directly to him or do as I am here and name him the beneficiary. This dude is the real deal as you can see from the links above. His heart is huge, and he and that little girl need our help.
Thank you for anything you might do to help our brother be a shelter for his niece.