A few days ago I got a phone call as I was eating dinner:

• [banker] Hello, Mr. Noam?
• [me] Yes?
• Hi my name is John Doe and I’m calling on behalf of your Chase branch manager.
• Chase?
• Huh… Chase Bank. Your bank.
• Haa ok.
• I’m calling today to discuss with you some of the new options that are available to you in regards to managing your money at the bank.
• Oh. Thank you very much but I’m not interested at the moment. I’ll make sure to call if I need anything. Thank you though!
• Well where do you usually do your banking?
• My banking? At home I guess.
• But which branch do you go to every week to do your banking?
• Hmmm I don’t go to any branch. I don’t really do any “banking”. But I’ll make sure to call a branch if I need anything! Thanks a lot!
• Why don’t you take my number instead? You can call me back within the next couple of weeks: it’s 2 – 1 – 2, 1 – 2 – 3, 1 – 2 – 3 – 4.
• Bye!
• Thank you and I hope to talk to you soon.

Do you think the bank’s policy to call (after work hours) all customers who fall within a certain category and discuss their “banking” in this way is a useful practice for them or their customers?

If you liked My Conversation With The Banker; you might find these posts interesting as well:

• Happy staff makes for happy customers
• Simple tip to make your life at work more enjoyable
• Good customer service will go a long way