LongLong's OL Blog - 容容 的洛城OL隨記

Saturday morning, I took Mom to Bank of America to open a checking account.  Mom is like most of the 1st generation immigrants in Southern California, she always banks at the traditional Asian local branches.  To them, the convenience of ATMs, online banking and large branch network are secondary, it's all about language preference and human interaction.  
So why did Mom decide to open an account with BOA?  Well, here is the story - and I was furious when I first learned about it .  

Mom's employer has opened a Bank of America small business account, and has "mandated" all their staffs to open BOA accounts ASAP, because they will start using direct payroll program from BOA small business.  Monthly salaries will be distrbuted via direct depsoit into BOA account, NO more papaer paycheck will be issued - and this will be the "ONLY" way to receive your paid.  

Okay, I am all for the convenience of direct depoist, I have direct deposit with my company.  However, it is a choice not a mandatory request.  I can choose to have the direct deposit to any bank of my preference, or I can request the papaer check.  Again, it's an employee's choice.  No company can force any of its employee on how he or she wants to receive the pay check. Employees work hard, get paid - No Employer has any right to direct how their employees manage their personal finance.  

So why on earth, Mom's employer wants everyone to open a BOA checking account?  Well, I put on my banker's hat the moment I walked into BOA branch.  I asked for the small business application and carefully read through the product offerings.   It turns out that if all staffs have the direct deposit within BOA, the employer will not only receive monthly payroll service for free, but also get $25 referral fee for every employee that opens an account.   

This is the typical act of Chinese small business owners in So. CA.  To save money or gain the little extra cash, they ignore the basic rule and regulation, and begin to use their "old native" country way of management.   I reasoned with Mom and told her that she shouldn't give in.  They have no right to demand this kind of request.  Although it is not a big deal to open an account with BOA, but going forward Mom would need to have her check deposit into BOA first, and then write a check to herself, and deposit to her own local Chinese bank, as Mom still wants to bank with her original local bank.  It's too much trouble.  Of course, Mom with her traditional taiwanese thinking, she does not want to have conflict and any risk of losing her job.  I can't say that I wasn't mad at Mom, but I understand the way she thinks - and so does her boss.  These ruthless chinese boss, knowing most of these 1st generation immigrants don't want to take the risk of lossing their jobs -use that as an advantage to demand unreasonable request.   You might think I over react to this small incident.  What's the big deal?  Well, it's all about the principle.  It's sad to see so many immigrants struggle to survive and make living in forigen lands, and most time it's their own contry men try to make it more difficult.....

After the long wait in-line for doing something I disagree with.  My anager started to built up quickly.  This's such a waste of my Saturday Morning.  The moment Mom and I sat down with BOA sales rep.  I started to lecture the poor sales person.  I told him. "It's not FDIC approve to encourage your small business account customer to force their employees to open the account with your bank.  I udnerstand it's a great opportnity for your bank to gain additional clients and for potential cross sell opportunity, but this is illegal".  The young sales person looked at me innocently and said " I am just here to do my business.  We don't force them to do direct deposit, they can write a paper check for payroll".  Then I told him " Although your company didn't set the rule that way, but you guys indirectly encourage them, and it's not good for Bank of America's reputation."  I knew I was not adding any value,  I stopped there and carried own with the account opening process.  I knew there is nothing the sales person can do, nor BOA exec, nor I can do......

All I wish is that one day, I will make enough money, let Mom quit that job, and then I will suit her boss's a@& off .... (sorry for the language)