Time is Well Spent at the Bank with Your Kids

 

I prefer to do some things the old fashioned way.  Like banking. I like going to the bank. I have been going ever since I was a kid. A lot of my upbringing was spent going to the bank with my Mom.  We had long conversations in hushed tones, waiting for a teller.

The marble walls, floors, ceilings and velvet ropes contributed to the reverent atmosphere.  It made me feel that money was so important that we had to handle it in this very special building.   

If the line was too long, I’d giggle and  try to pass run underneath the velvet ropes (in the waiting line) hoping that the poles wouldn’t clang to the ground.

 

These days, banking is a lot more about technology.  Electronic transfers, direct deposits, swiping cards and clicking online.  Although its convenient and easy, the future isn’t what it seemed to be. Check out The Future of Money: SmartPhone Swiping in the Mobile Age. 

All that swiping and clicking is wonderful, but there is more of an emotional connection to visiting a bank with real people. I would rather have a connection to the actual money, than the technology through which it flows.

Going to the bank makes me feel as if someone actually cares about my money (besides myself).  There is nothing more social than that!

As a parent, I think it is still an important rite of passage to open a kid’s bank account at a bank, with the child in tow.  After that, you can all go to the bank with them to “visit” the money and add to it with frequent deposits. 

One of the banks I use is really making visiting them a fun social experience.  I like taking my kids and dog with me …. we leave with free pens, sweet treats, dog biscuits, cups ice water and we can love to use the change machine to count our pennies and then deposit more in our accounts.

Time at the bank is well spent, when I can use it to teach kids about money.

As a parent, how do you feel about this? Your comments are welcome, as always!