on magic words and banking

The magic words to unlock any door.

If someone knows they and only they can be the key to helping you out, suddenly rules can be bent, exceptions made, opening times shifted just the slightest bit.

I had a check I needed to cash from a bank.  And banks here as a pretty common rule are not open past 4 (sometimes 4:30).  I dashed from work to the bank right at 4, and arrived about a quarter past.  There were still people inside doing business but the manager was standing in front of the glass door and very purposefully not making eye contact.  After half a minute of standing in front of the door with my best whitegirl puppy-dog eyes and making the local hand gesture for "please," he pointed to the hours posted on the door.

But then, a few seconds later, the security guard comes to unlock the door and stick his face out.  I say, "You're closed, right?"  He agrees that they close at four.  I say, "I only finish work at four and I came as fast as I could... I don't know what I can do."

He relents and the door opens.

Then when they discovered I wanted to cash a check rather than something "simple" like wire money, I hit even more complications.  You see, the check was issued from another branch of the bank and the link between the two branches has been closed for the day.  I don't get how this makes a difference if they can just put it into the system and have it update first thing in the morning - but apparently it does make a difference.

I talked to another manager-looking lady, who asked me some questions such as whether I had an ID on me, and whether I could come in to do it another day as opening hours of the bank were 8:30 to 4.  She didn't get it until the third time I told her that I work from SEVEN-thirty to four so couldn't come in any other day, either.
"Could you get a friend to do it?"
"No, they all have jobs too.  So, you see, I just don't know what I can do."

I started to say I might be able to come in Friday, but before I could finish my sentence she relented!

Seven or eight minutes after walking into the bank, I had my cash in hand.  Whew!


Monday was a holiday for the Canadians (and thus for me), so I spent the afternoon investigating rates and fees and rules at three local banks with good reputations, so I could choose one to open an account with.  At the end of the day I chose my bank and set up a savings account right then and there.  It was painless.  I was pleasantly surprised.
I asked them, "When will this account be ready so I can start depositing my paychecks?"
Their response?  "Oh, no, madame, you cannot deposit checks into a savings account."

What?

How am I supposed to save money, then?

Only by bringing in cash.  That sounds like a GREAT idea, no?

I need to set up a current account in order to deposit checks, and that needs extra documentation - a letter of reference from someone with a Ghanaian bank account to vouch for my "suitability for the purposes of maintaining a current account" - and I just lifted that text directly from the reference form that J filled out for me.  Someone once came to his office and set up an account for him but he wants to close it as they charge fees for monthly maintenance, internet banking, and a hundred other ridiculous things.  So he'll use his account to vouch for mine, then close that account and open a new one at another bank using my own account details.  I love/hate the circular logic of life.