Best bank in America?

When you sit down at a bank to open an account, you're forced to fill out endless forms that practically strip away your privacy.
In fact, you can't even get a basic checking account without handing over your life story.
They build these massive dossiers on you and log every single word you say. They aren't just processing paperwork; they are harvesting data.
So, watch your mouth. Watch what you reveal.

Why is everyone so incredibly touchy about data privacy? Over in Sweden, once you enter the tax system and get assigned a social security number—which is mandatory if you want to see a doctor, for instance—your entire profile is basically public record online. We’re talking full name, address, age, gross annual income, marital status, whether you own a house or a car... you name it. And honestly? Nobody complains about it.

George Lewis9 said:Why is everyone so incredibly touchy about data privacy? Over in Sweden, once you enter the tax system and get assigned a social security number—which is mandatory if you want to see a doctor, for instance—your entire profile is basically public record online. We’re talking full name, address, age, gross annual income, marital status, whether you own a house or a car... you name it. And honestly? Nobody complains about it.

They hand out an SSN to a kid the second they're born!!
Don't be so sensitive; just sign the damn papers.

Jesse Long2 said:They hand out an SSN to a kid the second they're born!!
Don't be so sensitive; just sign the damn papers.

Exactly. 🙄You guys worry about privacy at the bank, yet you spend all day posting every single detail of your lives on social media.🤦

Charles Ramos7 said:Exactly. 🙄You guys worry about privacy at the bank, yet you spend all day posting every single detail of your lives on social media.🤦

The entire system is built on a foundation of privacy violations, yet they have the audacity to slap a "counter-terrorism" or "anti-money laundering" label on it to justify their reach. On one hand, you’re sitting there preaching about the freedoms you enjoy... but if you actually want to exercise those rights, they demand your fingerprint. If you won't give them a thumbprint, they won't give you an ID. But honestly, what does a standard ID card even have to do with biometric data?
Is that not blatant discrimination?
What was once considered unthinkable just a decade ago has become our everyday reality.
Then there are those who actually agree with being bugged because they claim they have nothing to hide. That’s just how their logic works.

Jesse Long2 said:The entire system is built on a foundation of privacy violations, yet they have the audacity to slap a "counter-terrorism" or "anti-money laundering" label on it to justify their reach. On one hand, you’re sitting there preaching about the freedoms you enjoy... but if you actually want to exercise those rights, they demand your fingerprint. If you won't give them a thumbprint, they won't give you an ID. But honestly, what does a standard ID card even have to do with biometric data?
Is that not blatant discrimination?
What was once considered unthinkable just a decade ago has become our everyday reality.
Then there are those who actually agree with being bugged because they claim they have nothing to hide. That’s just how their logic works.

Well, if you have nothing to hide, you supposedly have nothing to worry about. Though, you didn't mention which specific data the bank was digging for that triggered this whole privacy invasion rant of yours.

George Lewis9 said:Well, if you have nothing to hide, you supposedly have nothing to worry about. Though, you didn't mention which specific data the bank was digging for that triggered this whole privacy invasion rant of yours.

Man, who taught you that line? I guess it was probably someone smart... maybe.

☕

boldskipper6 said:Man, who taught you that line? I guess it was probably someone smart... maybe.

Just past experience. But that’s not even the point—I want to know what kind of "excessively personal" data banks are actually digging for.

Jesse Long2 said:The entire system is built on a foundation of privacy violations, yet they have the audacity to slap a "counter-terrorism" or "anti-money laundering" label on it to justify their reach. On one hand, you’re sitting there preaching about the freedoms you enjoy... but if you actually want to exercise those rights, they demand your fingerprint. If you won't give them a thumbprint, they won't give you an ID. But honestly, what does a standard ID card even have to do with biometric data?
Is that not blatant discrimination?
What was once considered unthinkable just a decade ago has become our everyday reality.
Then there are those who actually agree with being bugged because they claim they have nothing to hide. That’s just how their logic works.

Well, fingerprints and a criminal's identity are definitely linked, but if you aren't out there committing crimes, I don't see why it's an issue.

I'd also love to know what "excessive" personal data banks are actually hunting for. Aside from what they're legally required to collect, everything else is just for marketing.

You don't owe anyone anything, especially not a bank. You aren't required to hand over data that invades your privacy. If some arrogant banker tries to push you, just cite GDPR. These people act like they can do whatever they want, period. They haven't realized yet that times have changed.
And if someone chooses to blast their private info all over social media, that’s on them. Their own risk.

Look, banks aren't exactly obligated to open an account for just anyone. But seriously—are we ever going to hear what kind of "secret data" they’re actually digging for?

George Lewis9 said:Look, banks aren't exactly obligated to open an account for just anyone. But seriously—are we ever going to hear what kind of "secret data" they’re actually digging for?

Since when did we start chipping people? And apparently, that's totally fine with you, I guess.

George Lewis9 said:Look, banks aren't exactly obligated to open an account for just anyone. But seriously—are we ever going to hear what kind of "secret data" they’re actually digging for?

A friend told me recently that her banker straight-up asked about her marital status. Once she said she wasn't married, the lady followed up by asking if she was even in a relationship. Like, who cares? What business is it of theirs whether I'm seeing someone or not? What kind of nonsense are these bank clerks allowed to get away with? It’s high time they were reined in. And I don't just mean for stuff like this. If they can pull this level of oversight in Iceland, we can certainly handle it here in the States.

boldskipper6 said:Since when did we start chipping people? And apparently, that's totally fine with you, I guess.

I don't know what kind of sensationalist headlines the American news outlets were running, but they haven't started chipping citizens—one company just invented an RFID chip that can be implanted under the skin, and a few tech geeks at that firm decided to try it out on themselves. 🙂.

A friend of mine mentioned recently that her banker actually asked about her marital status. After she said she wasn't married, the lady had the nerve to ask if she was "in a relationship." Honestly, who cares? Why is a bank employee even allowed to pry into someone's private life like that? It’s high time we reined these people in. Not just for stuff like this, either. If they can manage that level of regulation over in Iceland, we can certainly handle it here.

In the US, marriage or a registered domestic partnership is public record. I'm not sure how things work elsewhere, but there's a reason marriage is treated as an institution—it carries specific legal rights and obligations, especially regarding finances and supporting a spouse or children. But like I said before, you aren't obligated to hand over your data to a bank, and a bank isn't obligated to provide you with service 😉

George Lewis9 said:I don't know what kind of sensationalist headlines the American news outlets were running, but they haven't started chipping citizens—one company just invented an RFID chip that can be implanted under the skin, and a few tech geeks at that firm decided to try it out on themselves. 🙂.

A friend of mine mentioned recently that her banker actually asked about her marital status. After she said she wasn't married, the lady had the nerve to ask if she was "in a relationship." Honestly, who cares? Why is a bank employee even allowed to pry into someone's private life like that? It’s high time we reined these people in. Not just for stuff like this, either. If they can manage that level of regulation over in Iceland, we can certainly handle it here.

In the US, marriage or a registered domestic partnership is public record. I'm not sure how things work elsewhere, but there's a reason marriage is treated as an institution—it carries specific legal rights and obligations, especially regarding finances and supporting a spouse or children. But like I said before, you aren't obligated to hand over your data to a bank, and a bank isn't obligated to provide you with service 😉

They’re just guinea pigs testing if the thing actually works. Once they prove it, everyone else gets their turn 😁.

Marriage or registered domestic partnerships are public record here. I'm not sure how things work in other places, but there's a reason marriage is a legal institution—it comes with specific rights and responsibilities, especially when it comes to finances and supporting a spouse or kids. But like I said, you aren't forced to give a bank your data, and a bank isn't forced to provide you with services 😉.

Oh, great. So if you want a banking service, the bank just blackmails you into handing over whatever data they want (which is illegal).
Bottom line: stay away from banking nonsense whenever possible.

George Lewis9 said:Look, banks aren't exactly obligated to open an account for just anyone. But seriously—are we ever going to hear what kind of "secret data" they’re actually digging for?

Look, for instance:

Only government agencies, local municipalities, or public officials are allowed to ask for a Social Security number.

And then there's all this other stuff too... endless stuff.

Nicholas Ward5 said:Look, for instance:

Only government agencies, local municipalities, or public officials are allowed to ask for a Social Security number.

And then there's all this other stuff too... endless stuff.

Section 6.

(1) Those required to have one must use their assigned Social Security number:
1. on all applications and documents used when communicating with the individual,
2. on any paperwork used for business operations (like invoices, receipts, or similar documents), and
3. during electronic transactions and banking activities.

Charles Ramos7 said:Section 6.

(1) Those required to have one must use their assigned Social Security number:
1. on all applications and documents used when communicating with the individual,
2. on any paperwork used for business operations (like invoices, receipts, or similar documents), and
3. during electronic transactions and banking activities.

Come on, you know he was talking about Social Security numbers—you're just acting like you don't get it.

boldskipper6 said:Come on, you know he was talking about Social Security numbers—you're just acting like you don't get it.

What Social Security number? No one even mentioned that...😕

Charles Ramos7 said:What Social Security number? No one even mentioned that...😕

Honestly, you really should've stopped being such an old-school grandma type by now—at your age, too...