I opened an account with Chase bank about a month ago, and they’ve managed to make enough mistakes to make me think I picked the wrong bank in that time. This morning I was on my bicycle while in one of their drivethrough lanes when they told me twice they couldn’t accept my deposit because I was on a bicycle. They said they couldn’t do that “for my safety” – and I told them I needed a new bank if that was the case and pedaled away. And according to online banking, they did deposit the checks. I’ve been through the drive up ATM lanes that are 2 lanes away from the drivethrough lane I was in while on my bicycle while the bank was open and never had one of their employees tell me they wouldn’t accept my deposit. Right after this I went about 3 blocks down the street to Washington Mutual to pay my mortgage in their drivethrough, and they didn’t have any problems taking my money while I was on my bicycle. I called the Chase branch when I got home to find out why the employee told me they couldn’t accept my deposit, and still haven’t been able to talk with the manager to hear their side of the story. Has anyone else had similar problems with their drivethroughs?

Well WaMu probably didn't have a problem with it because you were paying them. Chase probably cared because you actually paying them.

Jk, maybe you should just go to another chase branch? I've never had a problem with chase, although I don't use tellers and I don't drive my bike to the teller windows.

I went through the drive through at my credit union and made a deposit yesterday with no problems.

No problem here. My bank even has a bike rack out front.

My bank knows me well enough that I can use the drive up window in the dead of winter while wearing my balaclava and goggles. Might have something to do with me knowing one of the bank managers pretty well because I live next door to her elderly parents and help them out with yard work and such.
But the way I see it, a bank is a privately funded company (read: non tax dollars), if they don't want bikes in the drive thru lane they have every right. But banks make money off your money, and if they want to make it so hard for you to give them your money then you can find someone else.

Yeah, my bank could care less what I pulled up in or on. But I live in a small town and have been on a first name basis with everyone in the bank for years. I can't think of the last time I had to pull out an ID.

Time to school your bank.

I would've gone into the lobby with my bike. I mean if I don't have a bike lock and they're not going to let me use the drive through, something's gotta give.

They could?

"for my safety" LOL. That's normally the kind of excuse given by someone who is so clearly incapable of doing anything other than following rules to the letter, and when they don't exist making them up, all to help them feel secure and empowered in their tiny pathetic unfulfilled life, and provides them with an excuse to pull inflexible, petty, power-mongering BS on anyone who gives them a chance.

A guy in England some years ago got pissed as his bank so he opened 50 different accounts in his pets' names, each allowing a balance up to minus 10 quid. He shanked the bastards, and legally they couldn't do anything to him.

Maybe you should try the same.

I find this offensive. Tell you what. So many Americans detest the looks of cyclists. So the manager wants us to come inside the lobby. ( In some towns we might not feel secure with our bikes outside? ) But, ok, they don't want us outside. So many cyclists are rank from the sweat, heat and they detest the lycra look . In that case, that also is their problem.
The patron ahead better move up or I might sweat on their shoes. Once when cycling, I had to walk into the lobby of a fast food restaurant. I probably sweat all over their counter, after they had closed the drive up for cyclists .
Guess, my real goal. In today's petroleum short world, business' should look on bicycles as a good thing and treat them accordingly. a cool down before I enter their store. Never.

Near as I can tell, the "for your safety" thing must mean that they're afraid of you getting mugged while in the auto-teller or the line, or as you cycle away. I don't agree that you're any more vulnerable to that than in a car, but it's the only explanation I can come up with.

Besides thinking this rule is irrational and unprogressive considering pollution and energy; a major sticking point that makes me angry is- it's inconsistancy. My impression is branch managers enforce it by whim. There often, very well -is no company wide policy. And often that branch manager might have a h@*d on for cyclists. Others' impressions.? So I will glady drip on their deposit slips.

Wow! An actual live warmblooded air breathing person at a bank drive up? Now there's a sight I've haven't seen in a while in my hometown. Please tell me, did they use the good ol' retractable drawer or that finicky screw together vacuum capsule.

Which is my #1 problem with the whole thing. It's even worse when you can get service at one time of the day but not another, depending on who is working.

exactly. that is why such treatment gets up my blood pressure.

They would care less...Thanks, mom.

HA!

I can just see the look on their faces when you ride your bike through that velvet rope maze inside to make your deposit.

That would be awesome, especially with trackstands and those 180 degree bunny hops!

We don't really deal with the local Chase banks, we have credit cards through Chase and get slammed with their telemarketing schemes. Not to mention missed payments and misapplied charges.

I've rolled up to the drive thru at my credit union and they just kinda giggle and otherwise deal with me as if i were a car.

It was the screw type canister, the exact same system they had at Washington Mutual. I'll let everyone know what the branch manager has to say when we finally manage to connect. Part of the reason I picked this bank was because it was reasonably close to my home, and would allow me to ad one more place to go when running errands on the bike. The ad in their window of the smiling bicyclist made them look bike friendly too!

I like it. Almost prefer that over being outside. I like AC too, on a hot day.

The correct answer was couldn't. No problem, kiddo

Whew, man. I need to pull out the little blue book again. I'm going to blame the US school system. Has to be, 'cause I know my brain is working all good.

At most (all?) drive throughs in chicago, they will not except ANYONE on foot, bikes, mopeds or scooters from my anecdotal experience.

I've seen those signs at certain banks in the Cleveland, OH area. I never gave it much thought.

Tim