Future present
So, last night, I experienced the cutting edge… at an ATM machine.
I had to deposit some checks and, lo, and behold, there was a new-fangled ATM at my local Bank o’ America. It didn’t require envelopes, in fact, there were none. No, this new machinery takes the frustrating task of licking envelopes that sit out in public AND the challenge of addition has been abolished! Instead, it just sucks in each check as-is, I verify it, then it asks for another!
From what I read in their press releases, if I had had cash, these new “deposit image” ATMs can take a stack of up to 40 bills at once and count them for you. If only I carried that many Washington’s! As you can see, they then print digital images of the deposited checks on the receipt itself.
Does your bank have this? I head heard of Wells Fargo doing it, but until I used it, I didn’t get its magic! Is it me, or is this totally Jetsons?
October 10th, 2007 at 7:25 am
That’s pretty dang sweet. We deposit cheques from home with USAA. You scan both sides on your home scanner, tell it what account to send it to and poof! Instant deposit. We don’t even have to send the cheque anywhere after. It’s all done. So friggin easy and fast. Way cool.
October 10th, 2007 at 8:56 am
New technology is fun. I watch japanese blogs to find out what we’re going to get in a year or so. I finally finished my tire messenger bag.
October 10th, 2007 at 8:57 am
New technology is fun. I watch japanese blogs to find out what we’re going to get in a year or so. I finally finished my tire messenger bag wander over to the blog to see it : ).
October 10th, 2007 at 11:30 am
I heard that this was coming, but I haven’t seen it yet. I’m with BoA, but in Boston. Maybe soon!
October 10th, 2007 at 1:31 pm
How cool is that! I’m with Wells and haven’t seen it in Southern California yet, but I will be looking now.
October 10th, 2007 at 4:01 pm
Doubt Mum’s bank does that…
We’re still very much “old fashion”, or shall I say, “back dated” in here…
October 10th, 2007 at 6:22 pm
When I was in Norway the ATMs took cash for deposits similarly to how vending machines take it here. I’ve always wondered why they don’t do that here…
Not that I deposit cash a lot, but it just makes sense.
P.S. My bank has self stick envelopes. Cuz GEESH, I would not lick ones that had been sitting around in the bank!
October 10th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
That is THE SHIT. The last 10 years were spent at 2 jobs that had direct deposit, though. I guess I did get the occasional wayward check. But the real kicker is the fact that I moved up to Canada in the meantime.
Get this: I had to deposit a US check at a well-known bank up here (it has the name of the country in its name, very similar to yours). The girl at the counter said (almost cringing, as though she knew I would get mad about it), “This automatically goes on hold for 20 days. You won’t be able to access those 35 dollars until 20 days have gone by.”
“Not a problem,” I said. “I wasn’t expecting to be able to.”
Apparently, that sounded like a string of obscenities and she began defensively explaining that while the US is pretty advanced as far as technology, “their banking is, like, in the Dark Ages.”
Well, that’s news to me. I’ve been carrying around a VISA check card for about 8 years, while the Royal Banque of the Great White North is all “ZOMG awesome ATM cards WOOOO!”
Just sayin.
I don’t think I ever thought twice about licking bank deposit envelopes. OMG I’m lucky to be alive.
October 19th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
wells fargo has been doing this here in NorCal for awhile now. it freaks me out… i keep thinking what if something gets jammed… will it know how much i put in there. i love the reduction of waste obviously… but it’s weird!!!
October 22nd, 2007 at 7:39 am
yup yup yup–
i’ve been doing this here in NorCal for a while.
it’s soooo AWESOME!!! i love it.
you have to let the atm Think about it for a while as it tabulates the total, etc.
my fiance still has issues with it, even though you don’t have to do anything except endorse the checks!!! he’s kinda like Sally from “When Harry Met Sally”…has to check the mailbox after each letter…etc. etc. imagine this with the ATM…
good thing i’m there next to him to say “JUST STICK THE CHECKS IN ALREADY!!!” :o) ek.