Customers Blast Bank Robbery

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More and more people are refusing to accept that argument. Prompted by a column critical of banks in the San Francisco Examiner, 5,000 people sent angry letters to California State Assembly Speaker Willie Brown. Complained one writer: "My bank put a two-week hold on a U.S. Treasury check because it was from out of state. I mean, if the U.S. Government isn't good for the money, we might as well toss it in." Brown has introduced a bill in the assembly that would require banks in most cases to clear checks within five days. Last week the New York State legislature began consideration of a bill that would empower a state panel to set limits on check-clearing times. In Congress, Democratic Senators Christopher Dodd of Connecticut and William Proxmire of Wisconsin have proposed a new law that would require banks to publish their check-clearing schedules. Many consumers are unaware of their banks' policies on check clearing. Publishing them would allow customers to shop around, and competition might force banks to reduce their check-clearing delays.

Gayle Essary was not content to wait for legislative remedies. After his checks bounced, he "got mad" and stood outside his Citibank branch to hand out leaflets describing his experience. He then organized a group of protesters, who picketed Citibank's annual meeting last month. In response, Citibank has assigned three officers to hear the protesters' case this week. Says Essary: "I'm committed to changing bank policy. The only outlet that people have is to complain." ·