Banking in Milan

Today we went to the bank so I could get added to Robert's account and get a debit card. Actually, Robert and I, along with one of the secretaries at work, went. She was there to translate for us. My impressions of banking in Milan (San Donato, actually):

1. To get in the bank you have to step one at a time into a tube. The door opens, you step in, the door closes, if nothing makes them nervous inside, the door into the bank opens, you step into the bank. There are little lockers outside in case you think you might have something that makes them nervous!

2. I signed my name at least 20 times in order to get added to Robert's account! That's crazy! I felt like I was buying a house. And lets hope the lady from Robert's work was really telling us what the papers said, since we would have no idea!

3. There is a charge to have more than one debit card. It's not much, but still.

4. We wanted to make a deposit. The lady at the bank told us that was fine, the first deposit is free. What? If we make more than one deposit a month at the bank, they charge us 3 euros (close to $4.00) for every deposit. What bank charges people to put money into their bank??

5. The ATM machines aren't like the ones at home that give you a choice of languages. Oh no, that would be too helpful. Your only choice here is Italian. Who knows what I might end up doing at an ATM machine here!

I am constantly amazed at how different Italy is from the United States. And I am constantly glad I get to return to the United States to live at some point.

Nice Surprise

Today I was checking my bank account online.  I do that almost every day.  I like to know when things have cleared the bank, and it makes balancing my checkbook very easy and fast.  I'm sort of obsessive compulsive about things like that.  

Today there was a new entry on my account - "Chase Pays Your Bills Winner".  And $30.02 had been put back into my account.  Apparently, if you pay bills at Chase online you are entered into a contest where every 5 minutes Chase randomly picks a bill someone has paid and pays it for them.  And I won!  I was very excited.  I will take a free $30.02 whenever I can get it!

Of course, it would have been nicer if my electric bill or cell phone bill had been chosen.  They are both bigger bills and closer to their $200.00 limit.  But I'll be happy with whatever they want to give me.

Oh, and it doesn't look like there's a limit on how many times you can win, so I'm crossing my fingers and hoping I'm lucky again!!

Banking

Okay, I will admit that I am a bit anal when it comes to reconciling my checking account.  I go online almost daily to check my balance and see what transactions have cleared. I can balance my checkbook to the penny in less than 3 minutes.

Today something happened that rarely happens.  All of my transactions have cleared the bank!  All of the checks I've written, all of the card swipes at stores or restaurants. They have all cleared the bank.  The amount of money my bank says I have is exactly the same as the amount of money I do have!  I think that's cool.  

Yes, I know that's dorky.  I don't care.  

Of course, I have to pay a bill or two today, so tomorrow my balances won't be the same.  Oh well.  I'll enjoy it for now.