Machine Banking

I opened my first bank account when I got my first paycheck for $1.99. (believe it or not, the missing penny was my withholding for Social Security) While opening that account, I was treated with the same courtesy as someone depositing a thousand. The teller, pulled out a new little green book and in a penmanship almost forgotten today, noted the date and the $1.99 deposit. I used that little book for many years and doubt that I ever had more than a hundred dollars in the account. I wish I still had it. I remembered all this a few days ago when I went to my “bank”. I do almost everything electronically and seldom have a need to actually go in the bank. When I do go, it’s mostly because I enjoy the social interaction. The last time I was there, several years ago, They had six teller windows. In addition they had four or five glassed in private offices that always had a young person sitting behind a fancy desk shuffling papers. Today was a different story. . All the teller windows were closed. The offices were all dark. There were three futuristic looking ATM machines positioned around the room. While I only went in to withdraw some cash, and inquire about converting some currency, I was looking forward to the social interaction with a teller. A young lady approached me and explained that all banking transactions could be performed on the machines. I greeted the ATM machine, but it did not respond. All it said was, “Please insert your debit card into the slot”. Penmanship and little green bankbooks are no more.