# Ridiculous technology needed to open bank account. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 18, 2020, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ridiculous-technology-needed-to-open-bank-account/846591 "2020-01-18T00:50:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ridiculous-technology-needed-to-open-bank-account/846591/21 "2020-01-18T16:22:08Z")
If you have to hold up a sign, the morning newspaper, stand on your head, silly walk, or any other clown shit then I agree with the OP that is completely unprofessional. All you should need is a smartphone with video call functionality (and the bank should support the major apps/brands), possibly access to the app store since some banks have a custom app to access your accounts online, and valid official identification handy. (And would you entrust your money to a bunch of clowns? Where’s the conservatively dressed, correctly polite man or woman who offers you coffee and makes you feel they are doing you a great favour by accepting your paltry ten grand) ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ridiculous-technology-needed-to-open-bank-account/846591/22 "2020-01-18T16:27:38Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Speaking of plastic and ATMs, I’ve asked before and never gotten an answer: Where I live I can get $2000 (equivalent) cash at almost any ATM, or transfer that amount to a stranger’s account. Is that also the case in U.S.A.? As T **helurkinghorror** says, $300 is the default. My bank told me I could get that increased, but I never bothered. As for transferring to a stranger’s account, I have never seen that option and have a hard time imagining how that would work. The young people have a way to send money around using an app on their phone, but I’m not hip to that either. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ridiculous-technology-needed-to-open-bank-account/846591/23 "2020-01-18T16:29:03Z")
> [@Calavera](#): > > I’m (well I _was_, I’m not any more) trying to open a bank account. They want me to verify my identity, fair enough, but the only thing they will accept is a live selfie. No taking a photo and uploading it, has to be live. No other option, no “if you can’t do that contact us on…” just an assumption that people can and are willing to do that. Since I’ve failed to do it I’ve got 3 text messages all reminding me to verify. Nobody has thought to actually give me give me a call and find out what the problem is. They’ve lost quite a hefty investment due to this nonsense to their competitor with slightly worse rates. > > Get off my lawn. Next time you contact them let them know how much money you invested with their competition, then tell them to go F themselves. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ridiculous-technology-needed-to-open-bank-account/846591/24 "2020-01-18T16:33:11Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > The DEFAULT daily ATM withdrawal is usually $300 or $400 to limit fraud. You can request a higher limit if you want. Thanks. AFAIK, a _lower_ default daily ATM withdrawal is _not offered_ where I live (though of course the effect can be achieved simply by not keeping more than $X in the account). ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ridiculous-technology-needed-to-open-bank-account/846591/25 "2020-01-18T22:00:15Z")
> [@Calavera](#): > > I don’t know how it works other than I can’t upload a file, and given I do my internet on my PC and picture taking on my phone and not vice versa I have no idea what they can determine, but it is a ridiculous pseudo security measure that cost them my business. Think about how simple it would be for a thief, or malicious ex, or anyone else to pretend to be you. All they need is a picture of you, and the bank would have no way of knowing it was actually someone stealing your money. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ridiculous-technology-needed-to-open-bank-account/846591/26 "2020-01-18T22:14:25Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Speaking of plastic and ATMs, I’ve asked before and never gotten an answer: Where I live I can get $2000 (equivalent) cash at almost any ATM, or transfer that amount to a stranger’s account. Is that also the case in U.S.A.? There are two limits on ATM withdrawals: The limit that your bank puts on your card and the limit that the operator of the ATM imposes. The typical non-bank ATM has a $400 limit. That’s twenty $20 bills. I said typical, each owner chooses their own limit for each ATM. That’s basically because the owner of an ATM doesn’t want one guy to come by and drain their machine. You can often get around this limit by making multiple transactions. And if you choose to make multiple transactions, the ATM owner charges a separate fee for each transaction, so this basically increases their revenue. The second limit is the one imposed by the issuer of your ATM card. The limit is typically $500 or less per day. The Citibank Citigold Account (the one that charges the highest fees or requires the highest minimum balances), for example, has a $2000 daily limit. Their lower status accounts have lesser limits. Being able to transfer money to a stranger’s account is very rare and you are unlikely to find it. US banks don’t make transferring money to other consumer bank accounts easy. Some banks offer services like Zelle or Venmo that let you transfer small amounts of money to other consumers that have signed up for these services. If you want to give money to a stranger who is not signed up or go above the daily limit, you basically have to give them cash, send them a check, or do an expensive wire transfer. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ridiculous-technology-needed-to-open-bank-account/846591/27 "2020-01-18T22:53:43Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > There are two limits on ATM withdrawals: The limit that your bank puts on your card and the limit that the operator of the ATM imposes. > > The typical non-bank ATM has a $400 limit. That’s twenty $20 bills. I said typical, each owner chooses their own limit for each ATM. That’s basically because the owner of an ATM doesn’t want one guy to come by and drain their machine. You can often get around this limit by making multiple transactions. And if you choose to make multiple transactions, the ATM owner charges a separate fee for each transaction, so this basically increases their revenue. > > The second limit is the one imposed by the issuer of your ATM card. The limit is typically $500 or less per day. The Citibank Citigold Account (the one that charges the highest fees or requires the highest minimum balances), for example, has a $2000 daily limit. Their lower status accounts have lesser limits. > > Being able to transfer money to a stranger’s account is very rare and you are unlikely to find it. US banks don’t make transferring money to other consumer bank accounts easy. Some banks offer services like Zelle or Venmo that let you transfer small amounts of money to other consumers that have signed up for these services. If you want to give money to a stranger who is not signed up or go above the daily limit, you basically have to give them cash, send them a check, or do an expensive wire transfer. This explains why checks are still in common use in the USA, by the way. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ridiculous-technology-needed-to-open-bank-account/846591/28 "2020-01-18T22:57:53Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > I guess I’m the opposite. I’ve never opened an account in person and I don’t think I’ve actually been inside a bank branch since I was a child being dragged around to boring errands. I was looking for a new bank a couple of years ago, and I tried to open an account at a small local bank, and…I just couldn’t figure out how to do it. There was no application form! Eventually the light bulb went off and I realized that you were meant to actually go there. They lost any chance of getting my business with that BS. (I just checked again, and they’ve now joined…the 1990s? Early 2000s?) I don’t go into a bank branch very often, but I have had to on occasion. Mostly to access a safe deposit box. And then once in a while to withdraw a specific kind of bill, like a $50 or a $100, that I can’t get from an ATM, for use as a gift. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ridiculous-technology-needed-to-open-bank-account/846591/29 "2020-01-18T23:13:08Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > As T **helurkinghorror** says, $300 is the default. My bank told me I could get that increased, but I never bothered. As for transferring to a stranger’s account, I have never seen that option and have a hard time imagining how that would work. The young people have a way to send money around using an app on their phone, but I’m not hip to that either. Most people use Venmo. It goes into your Venmo account then takes a few days if you want to transfer to your bank account. But for actual bank transfers, most banks are members of an alliance called Zelle, you send via email address. I think the transfer amount is something like $5000 per day. > [@suranyi](#): > > This explains why checks are still in common use in the USA, by the way. How so? I only know old people, curmudgeon store owners who are too cheap to pay credit card fees, and personal rent. I write maybe 1 per year or two. Edit: I realize that’s anecdote, but my experience witnessing across generations. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ridiculous-technology-needed-to-open-bank-account/846591/30 "2020-01-19T00:42:25Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > I don’t go into a bank branch very often, but I have had to on occasion. Mostly to access a safe deposit box. And then once in a while to withdraw a specific kind of bill, like a $50 or a $100, that I can’t get from an ATM, for use as a gift. What, your bank doesn’t provide on-line access to your safe deposit box yet? How primitive. Downright 19th century, even. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ridiculous-technology-needed-to-open-bank-account/846591/31 "2020-01-19T01:08:05Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Most people use Venmo. It goes into your Venmo account then takes a few days if you want to transfer to your bank account. But for actual bank transfers, most banks are members of an alliance called Zelle, you send via email address. I think the transfer amount is something like $5000 per day. I count[447 banks and credit unions in Zelle.](https://www.zellepay.com/get-started?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjIavtbmO5wIVUP_jBx0JTQWDEAAYASAAEgIwH_D_BwE) There are [4708 FDIC insured banks](https://www.statista.com/statistics/184536/number-of-fdic-insured-us-commercial-bank-institutions/) in the US and [5012 credit unions](https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-statistics/number-of-businesses/credit-unions-united-states). Where do you get the $5000 figure from? Capital One won’t even let me transfer $1000. They won’t tell you the actual amount, you have to go by trial and error. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ridiculous-technology-needed-to-open-bank-account/846591/32 "2020-01-19T01:25:25Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Most people use Venmo. It goes into your Venmo account then takes a few days if you want to transfer to your bank account. But for actual bank transfers, most banks are members of an alliance called Zelle, you send via email address. I think the transfer amount is something like $5000 per day. > > How so? I only know old people, curmudgeon store owners who are too cheap to pay credit card fees, and personal rent. I write maybe 1 per year or two. > Edit: I realize that’s anecdote, but my experience witnessing across generations. If some bank does not offer fee-free instant payments online or at an ATM (via Zelle or RT1 or whatever is used in the region in question), we can legitimately accuse them of being behind the times (which they should care about, since there is always competition). If Zelle users cannot pay their rent because of some low limits, that’s a problem, though $5000/day seems like it ought to be enough for a lot of people- though, for comparison, SEPA Instant transfers are currently limited to a default of €15000, but I guess that wasn’t enough since they’re increasing it to 100,000 this year. ETA less than $1000? Trial and error?!? ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ridiculous-technology-needed-to-open-bank-account/846591/33 "2020-01-19T01:57:19Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > ETA less than $1000? Trial and error?!? Zelle isn’t intended for paying your rent or buying a car. It’s target audience is [millennials who want to split the dinner check at a restaurant](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KbQ40sXm98). ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ridiculous-technology-needed-to-open-bank-account/846591/34 "2020-01-19T02:09:52Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > I count[447 banks and credit unions in Zelle.](https://www.zellepay.com/get-started?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjIavtbmO5wIVUP_jBx0JTQWDEAAYASAAEgIwH_D_BwE) > > There are [4708 FDIC insured banks](https://www.statista.com/statistics/184536/number-of-fdic-insured-us-commercial-bank-institutions/) in the US and [5012 credit unions](https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-statistics/number-of-businesses/credit-unions-united-states). > > Where do you get the $5000 figure from? Capital One won’t even let me transfer $1000. They won’t tell you the actual amount, you have to go by trial and error. $2500 sorry, I thought being unsure would be noncommittal enough but I guess not. Most major banks. > [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > Zelle isn’t intended for paying your rent or buying a car. It’s target audience is [millennials who want to split the dinner check at a restaurant](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KbQ40sXm98). I don’t know any so called millennials who use Zelle, it’s all Venmo (which sucks but is the standard). Split checks is like 75% of the use. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ridiculous-technology-needed-to-open-bank-account/846591/35 "2020-01-19T02:23:35Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > I don’t know any so called millennials who use Zelle, it’s all Venmo (which sucks but is the standard). Split checks is like 75% of the use. Yeah, that’s who they’re aiming at, but apparently not very successfully. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ridiculous-technology-needed-to-open-bank-account/846591/36 "2020-01-19T03:06:16Z")
I pretty much do everything online but I only use phone apps for a few things (like checking balances but not opening accounts), and I have no way to take a selfie from my computer. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ridiculous-technology-needed-to-open-bank-account/846591/37 "2020-01-19T03:19:59Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > Zelle isn’t intended for paying your rent or buying a car. It’s target audience is [millennials who want to split the dinner check at a restaurant](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KbQ40sXm98). Clickbait headline: Millennials Are Killing The “Lunch Is My Treat” Industry! ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ridiculous-technology-needed-to-open-bank-account/846591/38 "2020-01-19T04:24:47Z")
Umm… I think all the luddites here (including the OP) misunderstand what a “live selfie” is. It’s not a real-time selfie. It’s a quick motion capture image, usually under 5 seconds or so. The bank wants to know that you are alive, and not a picture of a a picture. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ridiculous-technology-needed-to-open-bank-account/846591/39 "2020-01-19T05:23:39Z")
I wonder how many Under-40s have or actually use a checking account. Some of my millennial students say they write one check a month… but I polled them and that’s only the ones who have a landlord “my age” (late 60s). Ok, I’m old, but I had to mail someone a check the other day, and I felt like I was trying to remember Stone Age Tech: \*Okay, I have to find that pad of skinny papers, where I write down an amount that I’m not giving you right now, but if you take this to your bank, they’ll give you cash then send this paper to my bank and they’ll pay your bank back, pinky-swear. Okay, dug the checks out of the closet, but now, what’s the date? And why the hell do I have to write $213.00, THEN write out ‘Two hundred and thirteen and 00/100’? Okay, now I have to find an envelope and a stamp… how much postage do I need? And do I lick it? No, it’s adhesive, darn I miss that ‘stickymint’ flavor… now where the hell do I mail it? Are there actual mailboxes still? Have I been walking right by mailboxes and payphones and just not noticing them? \* Aaargh, I worked so hard to forget all my Olde Fogie Ways, and now I have to dredge them up again… what’s next, you’re gonna tell me I have to tape the vinyl album of _The Yes Album_ but reorder the tracks to try to fit it on one cassette? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ridiculous-technology-needed-to-open-bank-account/846591/40 "2020-01-19T05:26:57Z")
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