Trip to our Federal Credit Union

[Skirmisher]

This Federal Credit Union is in Detroit and we have been members for over 30 years. We have always carried concealed inside. They have security!!!! On one door there is a sign "Working Metal Detector" On the entrance door is picture of a 1911 with a slash through it. As you enter that door, there is metal detector. If it goes off, the door to the lobby locks down and so does the door behind you. There is an armed guard in the lobby to press a release to let you in. An all we had to do is show our CCW permits and we were in. The gal at the desk was joyously applauding that I, a female, was carrying too. What an experience. Friendly people who were glad to CCW people in the bank!!!

 

[RobXD9]

What an experience just to do your banking.

Time for a new bank I say.

Robert

 

[armoredman]

I have carried open in AZ banks. Once I was asked to leave, and the range whose deposit I was trying to make, found a new bank. At another bank I carried open into, the teller got me into a conversation about the best JHP in 40 or 9mm. This was back before AZ's CCW law, BTW.

 

[enfield]

Friendly people who were glad to CCW people in the bank!!!

Except that, once you got in, everyone in the bank was aware that you were carrying and you were no longer carrying concealed. I'd change banks also.

 

[Erich]

Your CU's set-up seems pretty sensible to me.

 

[Hemicuda]

My bank (and all 9 or 10 in my town) are WAY more CCW friendly... they haven't got metal detectors, signs, automatic slamming doors...

matter of fact, they don't ask about my gun, and I don't tell them... that's about as friendly as it gets!

 

[BullfrogKen]

OK, so when a customer with rolls of coins comes in, then what happens?

 

[gezzer]

New bank time. As a Commercial customer of a bank I will not put up with this!

My bank had a sign no sunglasses, spoke with manager once sign gone.

 

[Mark Whiteman]

Removing anything covering all or part of the face is a common request. Sunglasses, wide brimmed hats, mc helmets. Some of this is strongly suggested by mysterious forces from above, like insurance carriers or the feds. It is getting rarer to actually have someone that takes the trouble to get to know you at a bank or cu that would make it possible to get a personal ok to carry inside.

 

[loki.fish]

Detroit huh.....must be a pretty bad place to have that much security at a bank. Glad I don't live there. Is grocery shopping just as eventful?

 

[1911 guy]

Bank carry.

I tend to carry at the bank because I take my family out every week when I deposit my check. I am always armed when with my family. Solo, I can either run or scream like a six year old girl without embarassing myself. With my wife and two year old son in tow I may not be able to take the evasive action or disengage as quickly as I'd like. Upshot of this is: My bank don't ask, I don't tell.

 

[Helmetcase]

I carry to the bank, but yesterday had to go to the MVA to renew a registration.

I ended up leaving it locked in the car. I know courthouses, Federal buildings, etc. are off limits around here, but didn't want to chance it down at the dept. of motor vehicle torture.

 

[Skirmisher]

I posted this bank experience because it was a Federal Credit Union located in Detrot, with one of the highest crime rates in the country, with signs all over warning people not to bring guns in then backing up the signs with effective security. The only people in the bank that knew we were carrying were the two people in the front lobby. There are a lot of stores and banks that post NO GUNS and have no security to protect the people inside. That is the difference I was trying to illustrate.

Our regular bank that we frequent is located where we live and post no signs about guns. We have always carried there. We don't live or shop in Detroit. We very seldom have to go to the Detroit Credit Union; most transactions are done by phone. On those ocassions when wo have to go in person, it is very nice not to leave our guns in the car or go into Detroit unarmed.

 

[Car Knocker]

I posted this bank experience because it was a Federal Credit Union

Is the credit union owned by the federal govt or does it just have the word "federal" in the name?

 

[romma]

If a bank feels that it needs those types of security measures ( many banks are high risk and get robbed nearly weekly) and they at least let law abiding ccw holders carry inside, then I say that is great. At least they are working to accomodate their clients and not the criminals.

 

[American By Blood]

I used to take my store's deposit to the bank every day before I changed shifts. The bank was a Wachovia branch with all of the standard corporate signage. Included was the obligatory "circle-slash gun" plaque by the door. The girls behind the counter and I alwyas joked about the hundreds, or even thousands, of would-be robbers that little sign had deterred. These ladies weren't pro-RKBA partisans, but they recognized that someone out to rob a bank wasn't going to let a plastic sign get in their way.

The credit union I bank with, however, has no such sign. Instead, they have a friendly reminder posted about how using a gun in the commission of a felony carries with it an additional mandatory minimum of a few years in the pen. Although lawful CCW in MD is rare, my CU theoretically allows it at their branches. If this state ever goes shall-issue it will be interesting to see if that policy remains. The antis always seem to a launch a "stay safe--post your business" campaign whenever a state or city decides to rejoin America.

 

[George S.]

Quote:
I posted this bank experience because it was a Federal Credit Union

Is the credit union owned by the federal govt or does it just have the word "federal" in the name?

I found this on the NAtional Association of Federal Credit Unions page:

A federal credit union is a cooperative, not-for-profit financial institution organized to promote thrift and provide credit to its members. Federal credit union members are provided with a safe, convenient place to save and borrow at reasonable rates, with savings insured to $100,000 by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF).

A federal credit union is member-owned and controlled through the election of a board of directors drawn from membership. Board members serve on a volunteer basis.

Federal credit unions have been serving the nation's consumers for 67 years. As of December 2003, there were 5,776 federal credit unions serving about 46 million people.

Membership in federal credit unions is not open to the general public. Instead, it is limited to persons sharing a common bond of occupation, community or association. Examples are employees of corporations, members of associations (such as Knights of Columbus) and residents of a defined area (such as a town or a neighborhood).

To join a credit union, a potential member must be first eligible under the common bond provisions, and submit a membership application. Upon submittal of the application, and the purchase of at least one share (typically $5), a person becomes a member with full voting rights.

Many credits unions have a "once a member, always a member" policy, and most also permit members of the immediate family of a member to join.

Basically, Federal credit unions have their funds insured by a specific insurance organization. They have nothing at all to do with the Federal Government as an owner or oveseer with the exception of assorted federal banking regulations. I had been a member of a Federal credit Union for nearly 30 years and it recently merged with a private credit union. Still have my same checking account and shares and such, but the insurance coverage for the money is different.

 

[carebear]

Credit Unions answer to members and are "not for profit".

Banks answer to stockholders (who are not necessarily their customers), which is part of the reason banks have more fees and such, they are "for profit".

 

[Lucky]

I can't believe people are criticising a bank for having security Wouldn't the notice the door and alarm provide be beneficial to you and other customes, if a robbery was attempted?

 

[Optical Serenity]

As long as you shop anywhere other than BoA, it's ok...

I hate BoA. They not only have branches with "no gun" signs, but also have a habbit of being very poor with customer service.

Back on topic though... I've never been questioned in the bank about even open carrying. THat being said, I don't see a problem with what they are doing. It is a Bank after all.

Also, regarding the sunglass issue...most states have a law that says you cannot wear a mask, and some even go as far as to say if a store feels you are concealing your face, then they can ask you to remove the item, or of course leave.