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The most hypocritical advertisement on television these days is an ad sponsored by all the banks patting themselves on the back for stepping up during the COVID-19 crisis.
After you have watched the ad, go out to West Ridge to visit the branch of the bank that I used to bank at in town. Don't get your hopes up that the lineup ends at the south-west corner, it extends up the west side as well. Be sure to introduce yourself to the security guard who has found employment where he wasn't needed in town.
In the 1970s and 80s the banks and their personnel were part of the social and economic fabric of Orillia, as they were of every small community. The bank personnel loaned funds out to customers to build the economy. The manager was always out on the floor interacting with customers big and small. The manager and bank personnel participated in service clubs and community activities.
Not now. Managers go through banks like revolving doors. They hardly have time to get business cards printed before they are shuffled on. Nobody knows who they are. The tellers are the only humanizing part of the bank that is left and the bank management is working hard at eliminating them.
I have been banking at the same bank in central Orillia for over 50 years. The other day I went to the door and found that it was “temporarily closed”. So I trekked out of town to the chaos at West Ridge.
I bank downtown in order to support the downtown. My bank doesn't care about the downtown. It is participating in a move by all banks to force customers into the branches they want you to use not the branches you want to use.
That's business, I understand that and will take my own steps to suit myself. But the banks should not brag and pretend they are doing it as part of the fight against COVID–19 when they know it is for their own business purposes. That's like lying on a loan application.
Doug Lewis
Orillia
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