And You Can Take THAT To The Bank!

When I first arrived in France, I had to open a new bank account and I was amazed at some of the differences in the banking system. Of course I had opened a bank account back in 2001 when I lived in Aix-en-Provence but I had forgotten just how different things are done here. Then, a few weeks ago, while I was visiting Drew in Limoges, I was again struck by the differences in the French banking system when Drew got a notice saying his bank card was ready to be picked up?! Okay, I'm getting a bit ahead of myself. First of all, when you walk into a bank, here in France, you don't have the usual bank teller windows we are used to back at home. Instead, you have a receptionist desk where you go and state your business. Then, depending on what it is that you need to do, you either handle your business with the receptionisht or you are told to take a seat and wait for the next available banker who will come out of his/her office to help you. They'll take you to their office where they will help you with your request/problem. Alot of the regular banking needs are handled through automated tellers: deposits, withdrawals, and account balance requests. They also have machines that will print out bank statements and recent transactions. I don't know how cashing a check would work since I've never had the need but I assume one of the bankers would do that if you didn't want to deposit it through one of the automatic teller machines.
Sometimes this system seems archaic and slow. Especially when like Drew, you are forced to deal with problem after problem in order to get a simple check/ATM card. See, like me, Drew has been in France since September of last year and he JUST got his card in February. We went to the bank to pick it up and it was really weird to see the receptionist go to a big file cabinet to retreive Drew's card. I guess picking up the card at the bank in person prevents theft of said card through the mail.
Usually the banking system leaves me frustrated and impatient but yesterday I had an experience at the bank where I actually appreciated the one on one-ness of the system. I still hadn't set up my online banking due in large part to the fact that I was put off by the whole process. I had to go to the bank in person to request a code that would allow me to gain access to my bank accounts online. Finally, I had some time and I was walking by my bank branch and I thought, "Oh, I might as well." I walked in and explained to the receptionist that I had opened up my bank account five months ago but hadn't set up my online banking. She assured me it was no problem and would give me a code to do so. She went through the whole process and when I asked her how I was to proceed at home she invited me to go around the desk and she would show me how to do it right from her computer. Now, when has a bank teller ever let you do that at home? The lady walked me through the whole process and presto-chango I'm now able to see my account online. Merci, madame!  So I guess, my point is we need to see the good and bad in all of these wonderful and fascinating cultural differences.