Home Raoul's TGIF First Kiss

First Kiss

Raoul’s Two Cents: September 24, 2021

Bad Banks

Can anyone tell me what’s happening with the banking institution? I’ve been asking other people if they noticed it too and it seems like they have been getting terrible service as well. Bank of America’s security is so tight it takes forever just to prove you are who you say you are. Chase Bank (like BofA) charges you for every transaction — they charge you for keeping YOUR money in their bank. Banc of California seems to be better and more courteous but the the turn-around of key employees (including 2 branch managers) in just 3 months is very disconcerting. The managers were nice people so I’m guessing the higher-ups were not easy to work with. Funny, each of the managers kept on asking me how much money I was going to be maintaining in their bank — as if they needed to use my money for something else.

The worst for me is US Bank. It took forever for me to open an account with them (over a month) and a teller (let’s call her) J-Lo, said I did not have all the necessary documents. After sending her a pile of documents. I asked what else she needed but she would not return my calls. Finally, I went to the bank in person and she opened the account. (I don’t think I was ever rude to her. It’s as if she just didn’t like me from the moment she set her eyes on me). I transferred HOA funds (Home Owners Association) from another bank to US Bank. The next week, they froze my account claiming that I had no proof I had the authority to represent the organization. According to another teller “corporate” flagged it (what a lie!) but It turns out that it was just J-Lo who froze it and she was the only one in the whole world who could unfreeze it. Unfortunately, J-Lo was on vacation for several days. We begged corporate for help but they said the same thing: J-Lo froze it and only she could unfreeze it. She froze it for almost a month. During that time period, my partner and I were calling, emailing, leaving voice messages, etc. we would call the manager, the corporate agent, etc. but they would not entertain our calls. The nightmare ended when J-Lo called and said Federal Law did not permit them to hold on to the account and they were returning the money. Hallelujah! If not for that law, we would still probably be trying to sort things out. A crime was committed but J-Lo and her people got away with it (at least for now). How could the banks have so much power over money they do not own? We could sue them I guess, but who has the time or money to do that? Warn your friends! Warn your family! I will NEVER EVER bank with US Bank again!!! I have the documents to prove this!

I just thought of a conspiracy theory. I think the banking institution was hacked big time and they lost so much money but they are not letting the public know. (Fraud is big business — low risk, huge profits because law enforcement cannot contain them. BTW, don’t ever do business with ‘US Domain Authority’ – they are a bogus operation that is out to steal your domain name!) The banks need to recuperate their loss in a very bad way. They also cannot find enough workers. Bank employees are overworked and underpaid. There are a lot of empty desks inside the banks. So much so that one other bank I use encouraged me to do all my transactions online.

My observations are certainly on a local level but I fear this may be nationwide. I guess this is true with many industries. In retrospect, I guess this is still better than a bank-run panic. The economy is so fragile with all the “new normal” brought about by Covid. In the bigger picture, the nation … the world! … is in a big mess. But in all this, again I say (as I have said before) these events have been predicted. We need to go through this in order to realize our security rests not in our “stuff” but in the Lord. The greedy men and women in power are fools to think God does not see the evil in their cold hearts.

Psalm 112:7 says “He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.”

If you love God, you know He wants the best for you. The bad news is temporary. Like a mother in labor, the joy of a baby comes after the pain. Better times lie ahead for sure … for sure! Keep it steady. Hold on to your faith. You can trust this saying about the awesome joy that is coming:

“For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” — Psalm 84: 10

TGIF people!

Raoul

ADDENDUM: I found this video that may explain what’s happening with the banks. I feel vindicated.

 

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Rey of Simi Valley, CA for this joke.

Art by Raoul Pascual

Fascinating Video of the Week

Thanks to Rodney of Manitioba, B.C.
(This isn’t the exact video but it’s about the same artist)

Parting Shots

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA for this joke.

Thanks to Peter Paul of S Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Ed of Studio City, CA

NOTE: The comments below got mixed up with the comments from the following week.

  • She Stared at My Lips

    Late Thursday night and I'm stuck staring at my monitor wondering what to share to my TGIF…
Load More Related Articles
  • Marriage Tip

    My wife and I watched a beautiful movie about the struggles of married life. It’s not a ne…
  • Happy Hell

    "Good evening ladies and gentlemen. We’re here in Hollywood California to celebrate the bi…
  • Tax Loophole

    Remember the dictator, Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines? He transitioned from a legally…
Load More By Raoul Pascual
  • Marriage Tip

    My wife and I watched a beautiful movie about the struggles of married life. It’s not a ne…
  • Happy Hell

    "Good evening ladies and gentlemen. We’re here in Hollywood California to celebrate the bi…
  • Tax Loophole

    Remember the dictator, Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines? He transitioned from a legally…
Load More In Raoul's TGIF

10 Comments

  1. Pia

    October 1, 2021 at 11:46 am

    Very nice sharing of our faith Raoul! Very proud of you for being one of God’s bold evangelist!!!

    God bless and much love,

    Reply

  2. Jacqueline

    October 1, 2021 at 11:46 am

    Love the message and the jokes and Very cute specially Mommas and Papas, I used to listen to them.

    TGIF.

    Jacqueline

    Reply

  3. Heather

    October 1, 2021 at 11:46 am

    Amen to that. It kills me when people tell me they’re Christians because if they are Christians, I would get that pretty darn fast! See you Monday.

    Reply

  4. Tom

    October 1, 2021 at 11:47 am

    Loved the issue and you are correct in your possession of Faith in Jesus Christ and what He taught. The video on Cody brought tears to my eyes and your words warmth to my Soul. Thanks for all you are and continue to be and do. Tom of Pasadena

    Reply

    • Raoul

      October 1, 2021 at 11:49 am

      Appreciate your brotherly comments, Tom. Isn’t it amazing that our friendship has blossomed through our emails and through our connection with Christ?

      Blessings and peace be with you this weekend.

      TGIF!

      Reply

      • Tom

        October 1, 2021 at 11:50 am

        Certainly is. My attendance at weekly Christian Business Commitee MEETINGS was instrumental in getting me comfortable in relating Scripture to Daily life and I marveled at how freely people expressed their Faith and what importance it was to leading their lives.
        Tom

        Reply

  5. Fred

    October 1, 2021 at 11:52 am

    Very powerful personal message. I’ll send around.

    My wife’s oldest cousin now refers to himself as an AUTHENTIC EVANGELICALIST. We spoke to him often when we were visiting. It seems like there is a tie in to your message, with many ‘Evangelicalists’ using the term in a political context… which sadly turns others away from Christ.

    I speak to Christ daily but still unable to get into the zone in which you speak of… I’ll keep trying as you are my witness and my apostle…

    Reply

  6. Raoul

    October 1, 2021 at 11:54 am

    Appreciate your comments, my friend.

    Indeed, we live in a world of moving faces … some happy, some sad and some tyrannical to a major fault. Even though I may share the passion to evangelize, I have learned that a person’s transformation does not rest in me but in the Holy Spirit. This allows me to be more calm and patient. Even Judas who walked beside Christ for 3 years, did not understand that the Messiah had no intention to save the world with a suit of armor. His predisposition, blocked every lesson that came out of Jesus’ mouth. He witnessed all the miracles but he thought he was smarter and could get things done better than Christ. He thought that rapping on his master would force the issue to overthrow the governing bodies. Big mistake. Big regret. Sad ending.

    It takes a leap of faith … a paradigm shift … to observe and make sense of the evidence in front of us. It’s easier to only believe what we want to believe. Remember another apostle — doubting Thomas? He could have been another Judas but he allowed the evidence of feeling Jesus’ wounds to shock him to the truth that he was facing a man who had resurrected from the grave. His remark says it all — “My Lord and my God!”

    TGIF. I’m praying for you and your wife.

    Raoul

    Reply

  7. Paul

    October 4, 2021 at 11:08 am

    Raoul,

    Do not pay attention to your ‘FRIENDS’who do not want you to speak of Jesus Christ. HE IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIGHT!
    Proclaim the gospel!

    I will find you a few jokes soon

    Reply

  8. Oscar

    December 7, 2021 at 1:33 pm

    Good morning Raoul, I’m sorry to hear about all that bank drama!!!! What a nightmare. I’ve been with USBank for the last many years and I have to admit that I haven’t had any problems with them. I have notice a change in staff more like short staff but that’s everywhere I go in whittier, markets and other stores Too. The quality of the food in the market has changed too and not good change. I bet it’s not like that in every city in California, The Rona people are picking which city’s to destroy😕🙏🙏🙏

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Jacqueline Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

Check Also

Marriage Tip

My wife and I watched a beautiful movie about the struggles of married life. It’s not a ne…