M&I Bank - "No Guns"

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Someone else here mentioned this recently, but I couldn't find the post...

I went to my bank tonight (M&I branch on Mineral Point and High Point, Madison)and noticed the signage stating "We have a no sunglasses, no hats, no guns policy, please remove these items before entering".

I asked to speak with the branch manager who confirmed this was a corporate policy. We talked briefly. When she said they "don't want the O.K. Coral in here" I chuckled and said " Oh, the O.K. Coral defense. 48 other states have proven that wrong. I'll take it up with corporate. Thanks for your time." and left.

I have been banking there for years, even own their stock; but maybe it's time for a change.

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sure would be great to see how fast she changes her tune if you were to say: "well if i can't open carry here to protect the people watching over my investment, then i'll just take my $2,000,000 somewhere else." LOL

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I was unemplyed for awhwile. I learned to live on very little. I saved up my paychecks for awhile, just to deposit them all at once for my first OC at my Credit Union. No Problem.

It is a small town. They have had my business for 20 years. It would have broke my heart to close my accounts if they made an issue.

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Looks like a few letters to their CEO needs to be written. I mean of all places where the danger of an armed confrontation is very real at any time... and they don't want you to protect yourself.

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I went to the M&I bank "ask us" page:
https://www.mibank.com/mibank/contactus/Contact+Marshall+%26+Ilsley+Corporation+About+M%26I

and sent this message:
"Please send me information about M&I's policy on civil rights. Are your branches required
to follow state & federal laws regarding human rights? If not, why not, & who makes the
decision to allow a particular branch to violate a customer's rights?

(Yes, there was a problem. I want to know whether it was just some lunkheaded
manager who will be correctedor if it's a corporate policy that needs to be addressed.)"

Will keep you informed as to any response.

PS on the sunglasses thing... what if someone is blind, or has oversensitive eyes?
PPS - are they really gonna make chemo patients remove their hats? What schmucks.


-

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It's for the cameras in case of a robbery. Next time you're at a bank check out the tape rulers they usually have stuck on the door frames.

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Brendon .45 wrote:

Someone else here mentioned this recently, but I couldn't find the post...

I went to my bank tonight (M&I branch on Mineral Point and High Point, Madison)and noticed the signage stating "We have a no sunglasses, no hats, no guns policy, please remove these items before entering".

I asked to speak with the branch manager who confirmed this was a corporate policy. We talked briefly. When she said they "don't want the O.K. Coral in here" I chuckled and said " Oh, the O.K. Coral defense. 48 other states have proven that wrong. I'll take it up with corporate. Thanks for your time." and left.

I have been banking there for years, even own their stock; but maybe it's time for a change.

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i wear sunglasses because i have a sensitivity to light. I wear a hat because i am bald and ashamed this balding happened to me you are violating my rights i carry a gun because a cop is too heavy. :celebrate

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The hat/sunglasses thing has been on the door for a few months now, the gun part must have been added this week.

I could see where they were going with the first part as far as making sure nobody was trying to hide themselves. And it is private property... But I think all three certainly are civil rights violations.

I too wear sunglasses due to a sensitivity to light; and a hat during winter. I remove these items after I am in the door and they go back on before leaving. They have never mentioned anything to me about it.

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I just sent my letter to the link provided above.

"To whom it may concern,

I have been customer for many years, and also own stock (for or at least the last 25 years!).

I recently entered my local branch and noticed the "no sunglasses, hats, guns" policy and was quite disappointed to say the least. I understand the reasoning that may have led to this policy but recognize it as a civil rights violation.

What about customers who may be blind or have an extreme sensitivity to light (such as myself)?

What about customers who for whatever reason feel they need to wear a hat? For example a chemo patient who has lost her hair.

The right to bear arms is an individual right guaranteed by both the U.S. Bill of Rights and the Wisconsin State Constitution. The right to self-preservation is a birth right of all human beings.

If M&I Bank continues with this policy, can you guarantee the safety of your patrons on your property? Will an armed escort be provided to help customers get from their vehicles and back while on your property? If you cannot guarantee for our safety, it is up to us as individuals to provide for ourselves.

As you know, someone who is bent to commit a crime on your property is not going to follow these policies anyway.

Please let me know what you plan to do in regards to these violations of our civil rights. I would hate to have to close my accounts and move elsewhere, as up until now I have been extremely pleased with my banking experience at M&I Bank.

Thanks for your time,"



Ended up longer than I wanted, but I guess I had a bit to say.

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I am not a patron of that bank, I think that if they hear from those that do not belong to their little world they wouldn't care. I would be interested in hearing their response.

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Just sent this email:

I just recently stopped in at your Sussex, WI branch to pick up my mortgage preapproval letter and was shocked to see a sign at the door stating that all "sunglasses, hats, guns" needed to be removed before entering the building.


I would like clarification on why your bank is the only one I have come across that is willing to disregard an individual's constitutional rights. While I would like to start a new business relationship with M&I, being disarmed before entering the establishment is a serious safety concern for me. Who do you think will be more likely to adhere to this policy, violent criminals or law abiding customers? In fact, by posting this sign, you are advertising your business as an ideal location for a criminal to attack. You guarantee his victims will be defenseless.


There are many longtime and potential customers that are taking notice. I participate in dicussions at OpenCarry.org and will be sure to share your response with the 26,000+ members of the site. These individuals can decide whether they are willing to sacrifice their personal security for the priviledge to do business with M&I.
Thank you for time

It would be great if a few other people could chime in. These businesses should be notified that a decision to ignore constitutional rights may be a poor business practice.

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I've been very happen with my credit union. Just a poke and prod to get you to change from a bank.

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Can you post the address you sent the letter to and I'll send one out as well.

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MKEgal wrote:

I went to the M&I bank "ask us" page:
https://www.mibank.com/mibank/contactus/Contact+Marshall+%26+Ilsley+Corporation+About+M%26I

and sent this message: <SNIP>

Click to expand...

This link iswhere I sent my letter as well.



I already got a reply as well. Here it is in its entirety:

"Dear Brendon,

Thank you for contacting M&I Bank. Please know that we are sorry to hear you are disappointed with our new policies. We will not be changing these policies, as they have been put in place for the protection of our employees and customers. These policies would not be a violation of civil rights, as every business retains the right to refuse service based on their own policies. If you choose to move your accounts, we would certainly be sorry to lose you as a customer, however we are not able to sacrifice the safety of our employees and other customers.

I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to assist you with your inquiry. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact at mibank@mibank.com, or at 1-888-464-5463, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. At M&I Bank, we are committed to providing you a convenient, safe and secure online banking experience.

Sincerely,

Leah D
M&I Direct"



They didn't even address my safety concerns or concerns for the other items; the hats and sunglasses.

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Credit unions my friends.

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Brendon .45 wrote:

MKEgal wrote:

I went to the M&I bank "ask us" page:
https://www.mibank.com/mibank/contactus/Contact+Marshall+%26+Ilsley+Corporation+About+M%26I

and sent this message: <SNIP>

Click to expand...

This link iswhere I sent my letter as well.



I already got a reply as well. Here it is in its entirety:

"Dear Brendon,

Thank you for contacting M&I Bank. Please know that we are sorry to hear you are disappointed with our new policies. We will not be changing these policies, as they have been put in place for the protection of our employees and customers. These policies would not be a violation of civil rights, as every business retains the right to refuse service based on their own policies. If you choose to move your accounts, we would certainly be sorry to lose you as a customer, however we are not able to sacrifice the safety of our employees and other customers.

I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to assist you with your inquiry. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact at mibank@mibank.com, or at 1-888-464-5463, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. At M&I Bank, we are committed to providing you a convenient, safe and secure online banking experience.

Sincerely,

Leah D
M&I Direct"



They didn't even address my safety concerns or concerns for the other items; the hats and sunglasses.

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For those who haven't written letters yet, use their own boilerplate against them:

[sub][sup]I am sorry to hear you have instituted policies that endanger your employees and customers in favor of giving criminals safe working environments. These policies violate your employees and customers' rights to make it through a bank robbery alive and with the same amount of money they had as when they went in. Your choice to sacrifice the safety and wealth of your employees and customers will cause those who refuse to commit suicide to exercise their right to move their accounts to a safe institution. It is clear you want to be one of the most dangerous places to conduct financial transactions in the State of Wisconsin.[/sup][/sub]

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I love it and will be rewording it and sending it out snail mail.

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This is one of those you're not going to likely "win" unless the business in question is already on-board, or at least ambivalent and simply defers to the local law wherever their doors are open.Implied welcome or not, it's private property, not a civil rights problem.

FTR, neither my local credit union nor bank where some of my biz hangs (including the mortgage), nor the credit union where my club's funds hang outhave a problem. If they did, I would not hesitate to walk the business over to the competition, who would be happy to walk me thru where to sign. All too easy nowadays; this is often a situation where it's quite easy to vote with your wallet.

Thanks for sharing your experience with M&I.

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Brendon .45 wrote:

Thank you for contacting M&I Bank. Please know that we are sorry to hear you are disappointed with our new policies. We will not be changing these policies, as they have been put in place for the protection of our employees and customers. These policies would not be a violation of civil rights, as every business retains the right to refuse service based on their own policies. If you choose to move your accounts, we would certainly be sorry to lose you as a customer, however we are not able to sacrifice the safety of our employees and other customers.

I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to assist you with your inquiry. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact at mibank@mibank.com, or at 1-888-464-5463, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. At M&I Bank, we are committed to providing you a convenient, safe and secure online banking experience.

Sincerely,

Leah D
M&I Direct"



They didn't even address my safety concerns or concerns for the other items; the hats and sunglasses.

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Are you going to "close [your] accounts and move elsewhere?"

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All - Please send a snail mail letter to their CEO. Doc attached or copy and paste the following.

[font="Arial, sans-serif"][/font]

Name
Address
Address
Phone Number

2-22-10

Mark Furlong
CEO M & I Bank
770 N. Water Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202

RE: Open Carry Policy

Dear Mr Furlong;

I was disappointed to read that Marshal & Ilsley bank has instituted a policy that endangers their employees and customers by disregarding the Wisconsin Constitution and not allowing the lawful open carry of firearms at your banks.

Instead your corporation has decided to give criminals a safe working environment. This policy guarantees that your employees and customers will be defenseless in the face of danger at your banks.

Until this policy is changed I will be a strong advocate to my friends and family to not allow them to bank with such a corporation that puts them in harms way.

Sincerely,



Name

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[font="Arial, sans-serif"][/font]