I was with 9 year old KLS at the bank. She was making a withdrawal from her savings account so that the two of us could go to the book store, er uh, record stand to buy a CD. She had meticulously filled out the withdrawal slip; it was her first. This was an exercise in financial training and part of her continuing education, as it were. Then she approached the teller, solo. I was watching proudly from 10 paces back. We were the only customers in the entire place so the teller made a big production out of it; checking references and consulting her monitor and walking over to the managers desk (ahem, excuse me, assistant bank vice president) and speaking in hushed tones. There was a problem. Being a minor, she needed the co-signers signature to withdraw the $20. “Sure, KLS” (I’ll help ya out here), I said cheerfully. “It’s alot easier to put money in then it is to get it back out. Isn’t it.”, I quipped but directed half sarcastically toward the teller. “I’m sorry sir but the little girl’s Mother has to sign it.” What? “I am her Father. I’ll sign it.” She informed me that my name did not appear upon the list of the approved. “What do you mean, I can’t sign?”, I asked. “I was in here not 6 months ago and the three of us sat face to face at this very desk and opened this account.” “I’m sorry sir. I’m only following bank rules. Here is a form which you can take home for Kiersten’s Mother to sign authorizing you to also sign.”

“Come on KLS. I’ll loan you the money.” We walked out. I wanted to tell them what they could do with the form. What ever happened to family value and trust. Would they really have gone out on a limb and jeopardized their position by giving her HER $20? A bank employee can go a little out of control in Singapore and loose BILLIONS of dollars. It’s comforting to know that there are adequate controls in place to prevent a roque Dad from raiding his daughter’s piggy bank.