imported post
After work today I went to my usual bank to deposit my paycheck, have been with this bank for the last 4+ years and OC weekly into one of their branches to put in my check. As I was talking to my teller completeing my deposit the assistant bank manager walked over to me and told me "Did you know that it's a federal offense to have a firearm in a bank?" I replied that no it was'nt a federal offense and also was not a state law, but that being a private entity they could make the decission that firearms were or were not allowed in the bank and if they did'nt want to allow them then I would be more than happy to close my account. He seemed really surprised that I responded that way but seemed genuinely happy to figure out what the rules were. I asked him if he could provide me in writing with the company policy that stated that firearms were not allowed and he called around but could'nt provide me with it. He did try and rationalize that wearing a gun in a bank was akin to wearing a ski mask, but I explained to him that I carry around large sums of money and that of anywhere I go banks are one of the more likely places I am to be when a robbery occurs because banks get robbed all the time. Ended up he is going to call their security manager or something and see what he can get in writing. Withholding the name of the bank till It's either confirmed or denied as to what they say. No signs present that state no firearms also.
ETA.
OK so I talked to the manager at the bank today after work, then was prompted to talk to their local security expert who is in charge of their local Security and got a lot more info.
First the bank was CHASE bank, will be adding this post to the First post when I get done.
Second the assistant manager who told me that he was told by the store manager was refering to the manager of the grocery store that the branch is located in, not the manager of the branch. So I ended up talking to the manager of the branch today, It was a rather frustrating call she said she understood the law and that since washington state issued concealed carry permits that she felt that I should conceal my pistol when in the bank. I told her that legally she could tell me that I could'nt carry in the branch and if I did'nt comply then they could have me arrested for trespassing and asked her if that was what would happen if I continued to carry as I have for the last 4 years. She just repeated what she had already said instead of answering me, I then explained to her that I felt that openly carrying a firearm was preventative and would lower the odds of me actually needing to use it, she then said the same thing AGAIN, and offered to have their security expert call me, I think I surprised her when I said OK!
Third About 2 hours later the local security expert gave me a call, conversation with him went much better. He started out telling me that chase chooses to follow washington state law and since washington state allows open carry that they are perfectly fine with open carry in their branches, and furthermore he has informed the employees at all the branches that it is perfectly legal to open carry and to help anyone OCing out and to tell them to have a nice day. He did say that they of course would'nt want someone OCing to be resting their hands on the butt of the gun, etc.
T
After work today I went to my usual bank to deposit my paycheck, have been with this bank for the last 4+ years and OC weekly into one of their branches to put in my check. As I was talking to my teller completeing my deposit the assistant bank manager walked over to me and told me "Did you know that it's a federal offense to have a firearm in a bank?" I replied that no it was'nt a federal offense and also was not a state law, but that being a private entity they could make the decission that firearms were or were not allowed in the bank and if they did'nt want to allow them then I would be more than happy to close my account. He seemed really surprised that I responded that way but seemed genuinely happy to figure out what the rules were. I asked him if he could provide me in writing with the company policy that stated that firearms were not allowed and he called around but could'nt provide me with it. He did try and rationalize that wearing a gun in a bank was akin to wearing a ski mask, but I explained to him that I carry around large sums of money and that of anywhere I go banks are one of the more likely places I am to be when a robbery occurs because banks get robbed all the time. Ended up he is going to call their security manager or something and see what he can get in writing. Withholding the name of the bank till It's either confirmed or denied as to what they say. No signs present that state no firearms also.
ETA.
OK so I talked to the manager at the bank today after work, then was prompted to talk to their local security expert who is in charge of their local Security and got a lot more info.
First the bank was CHASE bank, will be adding this post to the First post when I get done.
Second the assistant manager who told me that he was told by the store manager was refering to the manager of the grocery store that the branch is located in, not the manager of the branch. So I ended up talking to the manager of the branch today, It was a rather frustrating call she said she understood the law and that since washington state issued concealed carry permits that she felt that I should conceal my pistol when in the bank. I told her that legally she could tell me that I could'nt carry in the branch and if I did'nt comply then they could have me arrested for trespassing and asked her if that was what would happen if I continued to carry as I have for the last 4 years. She just repeated what she had already said instead of answering me, I then explained to her that I felt that openly carrying a firearm was preventative and would lower the odds of me actually needing to use it, she then said the same thing AGAIN, and offered to have their security expert call me, I think I surprised her when I said OK!
Third About 2 hours later the local security expert gave me a call, conversation with him went much better. He started out telling me that chase chooses to follow washington state law and since washington state allows open carry that they are perfectly fine with open carry in their branches, and furthermore he has informed the employees at all the branches that it is perfectly legal to open carry and to help anyone OCing out and to tell them to have a nice day. He did say that they of course would'nt want someone OCing to be resting their hands on the butt of the gun, etc.
T