Updated! ..conversation W/ Bank Manager .. Dump Treasures

It would be very hypocritical of me to say that he was doing anything wrong. I had a girlfriend that was a bank teller and very good at finding me things of interest.

Like others, I agree that his offering to pay more than face is commendable.

I saw it a little differently than most I suppose. I thought about this as I read some of the other responses and it occurred to me... Basically my opinion is I have no issue at all with it on any ethical level. I just think it did show a lack of tact for him to boast about it to you (or any other customer).

Situational advantages presented to individuals to be johnny on the spot is fine. Certain perks present themselves to those in the situations right when they arise is all part of the different daily routines we all live within. But to advertise that position as being locked or boasting about the benefits of being the only one "in the know" just shows lack of tact in my opinion. That's all. Almost childish and teasing to do as an adult.

No malice, or henpecking. Personal discretion causes me to show disapproval at any flagrant boast to someone who is not in position for equal play. But nothing more.

-JMO

For the few of you that think the bank manager is doing somethink unethical....Ponder this! If somebody gave you a silver quarter in change for a transaction.....Do you give it back? and tell them to take it to a coin shop where they can get 9X face? NO! You take it happily and see if they have anymore you can get for face value! Do ANY of us roll Searchers return any silver (or any other valuable coin) we find back to the bank and tell them to take it to the coin shop and get 9X face? NO! Same Priciple! Those Coinstar machines are there to take peoples UNWANTED change! Knowledge is Power!

I have a former friend that worked in a bank every summer when he was in school. His job was rolling change and he accumulated hundreds of dollars in face of 90 percent silver that he still owns today. He never told the bank he was doing this and I suspect from what I learned later about his charachter and some things he said, was that he pilfered some of it without replacing it with clad change. I think it is still dishonest to offer twice face value when it is worth more - not as honest as stealing it of course, just a matter of degree.

When you work in a bakery, you take home extra bread.

I believe this person in a supervisory capacity is doing well, is it against company policy?

A possible conflict of interest on his part, there to assist customers who count on his 'full' assistance and to properly guide people for their best interests. No matter the opinion, this could be seen as a strong conflict.

I believe some people are in a place or position that affords them "benefits" others do not have, sure he is in the right place at the right time, but as mentioned before, how is this advantage afforded to him and not others.
Lets say a lower on the chain of command teller or other bank worker happens to see this, do you think he will be allowed the same 'advantage', my guess, not under the present manager's supervision, my point, what is good for some, should also be good for others or policy should dictate, conflict of interest and no one is allowed to "do business for them selves" during banking hours on the banks property, if caught, dealt with..

I remember many stories about bank tellers being approached by customers with very valuable gold coins(double Eagles) and the customers asked are these still good, the teller says yes and pays the customer the face value for the coins worth much, much more and ultimately they were fired, another conflict of interest during banking hours.
Also if you owned this bank and found out your manager was "doing business, for the sole purpose of advancing their own agenda, during the hours you are paying him/her", you would not feel this is a reason to stop this practice?

I feel IMO, He is in a great place to advance his collecting abilities, I also feel bragging about the "benefit" is among other things, a sign of poor character, just my opinion.....PS, We have no bank workers here in this family to shed any light on this topic?

A bank manager is not a financial adviser and banks are not there to necessarily do what is in their customer's best interest. Their purpose is to generate the maximum amount of revenue possible for the owners or shareholders. On the individual customer level just look at all the fees and penalties they love to charge. Also consider the minuscule amount of interest they give you on savings accounts. As of today Bank of America gives you 0.1% APY on a savings account while one of the online banks (Orange Direct) is currently at 1.3%. B of A could offer a similar rate and still make tons of money off our savings. So if a bank employee was really supposed to act in their customer's best interest they would tell them to get an account elsewhere.

If the events of the past year don't demonstrate that lending institutions have anything but their customer's best interests in mind then I don't know what will.

Well .... this post has certainly generated the opinions I was looking for ..... and all given in the spirit of the CCF ... no flames but honest views.

Thanks for sharing with respect of others ....

I have read every reply and am now coming down on the side of "Joe" ..... he is enjoying a benefit of his job ..... there is a part of me that wishes I had his job.

A couple of things sealed this for me ...... Sap wrote a very well thought through reply where he spoke of 'fungible' and made a comparison to leaves on the tree ....

Another wrote and stated the obvious for a roll searcher ..... if "Joe" were not there intercepting ..... would I as a roll searcher return the valued finds to the bank?

Continued opinions and discussion is valued and welcome

David