| Let me preface my remarks by saying I've been | | | | but I still have an uneasy feeling about allowing |
| involved in the I.T. industry for over 30 years now | | | | others to directly tap into my account. Call me old |
| and have seen a lot, particularly banking systems. In | | | | fashioned. |
| fact the Japanese used our "PRIDE" methodologies | | | | Actually, I don't find banking to be very complicated. |
| to design their latest generation of banking systems | | | | I probably write 10-15 checks a month and make a |
| which are considered state of the art and ahead of | | | | couple of deposits. To me, writing a check and |
| their American counterparts. With this said, I recently | | | | updating my register doesn't require a rocket |
| went to my bank to make a deposit. I know most | | | | scientist. True, I have to apply postage to pay my |
| of the tellers there and enjoy a good relationship | | | | bills by mail, but I see this as a very nominal charge. I |
| with them. However, on this occasion there was a | | | | also have to visit my bank to make a deposit, but I |
| new teller who dutifully processed my deposit and | | | | find this to be a pleasant distraction from my work. |
| upon looking at my account told me, "Mr. Bryce I see | | | | I'm sure these on-line banking systems provide some |
| you are not taking advantage of all of our on-line | | | | handy services, but I don't believe in change just for |
| banking services. Do you want a pin number or a | | | | the sake of change. If this is how I like to operate, |
| debit card? How about direct deposit and on-line | | | | what's wrong with that? |
| payment of bills?" | | | | I remember years ago when my grandfather passed |
| I politely declined the offer and said, "No, that won't | | | | away in Buffalo, New York, we went up to help my |
| be necessary." | | | | grandmother tidy up his affairs. My father was |
| She kept pressing the issue and said, "Don't you | | | | rooting around in the basement and found a small |
| want to know what your up-to-the-minute balance | | | | box containing quite a sum of money. My Dad |
| is?" I told her I shouldn't have a bank account if I | | | | confronted his mother with it and said, "Mom, why |
| didn't know what was in it. | | | | are you keeping such a large wad of cash laying |
| This got me thinking about our on-line banking | | | | around?" |
| systems and how people interact with them. I've | | | | "Well Sonny," she explained, "Don't forget the banks |
| been writing checks and balancing a check book | | | | failed one time (a reference to the Great |
| manually for about 37 years now. I don't find it | | | | Depression), and they can fail again." |
| complicated and actually enjoy balancing my check | | | | I guess I feel somewhat the same way and basically |
| book; it's good mental gymnastics for me. I | | | | don't trust on-line banking systems. Even though I've |
| particularly like it when I find a bank error. My children | | | | been intimate with banking systems for a long time, |
| though are different and take full advantage of | | | | I'll probably be the last person to make use of them. |
| on-line banking systems. They can't be bored with | | | | Don't forget I'll probably also be the last guy to buy a |
| balancing a bank account, they like direct deposit, and | | | | cell phone as well. |
| often use their debit cards. I guess to each their | | | | Yea, I know what you're saying, "This guy is out of |
| own. | | | | step with the times." |
| Somehow I've always had a problem with allowing | | | | Maybe, but I also know what's in my bank account |
| others to electronically tap into my bank account and | | | | and know how to pay my bills on time. Like I said, call |
| have resisted it for years. I know they have some | | | | me "old fashioned. |
| very good security measures over such transactions, | | | | |