Dear Editor,

The 10 of us retired professionals locked down by the novel coronavirus pandemic spent time ‘day-telling’ bank stories.

On Wednesday, June 16, 2021 I spent three hours waiting at the National Commercial Bank (NBC) Matilda’s Corner Branch in Northside Plaza. I was summoned there because the teller at Knutsford Boulevard informed my bearer that my account had not been used for many years and needed to be updated. She, however, did not notice that my last pension withdrawal had been May 24, 2021. I was forced to wait on that uncomfortable chair for three hours!

I stood for a stretch at least three times.

I stopped clerks passing by and asked them if I could join the line. They gave reasons I needed to endure the long wait.

The driver who accompanied me frequently squatted by my chair as no seats had been provided for him and he remained close to assist me in my visually impaired state.

Other senior citizens groaned, complained loudly, and some left having not been serviced, as they announced their quickly rising blood pressure.

I wondered why, at age 89, I had been summoned to suffer in that bank.

I was amazed when my number was finally called. I was asked for my mother’s maiden name and my tax registration number (TRN). I can understand the request for the TRN, because when I opened that account the name of the place was Barclays Bank, but I can’t figure what any of this had to do with my mother’s maiden name. I loudly told them Emselina Agatha M… of Falmouth and boasted that she was the daughter of Augustus M.. — a head former teacher and choirmaster of Knibb Memorial Baptist Church. I spoke loudly as I tried to force some history on them for my suffering was in vain.

I told them that the three and a half hours of punishment had been scandalous, and I was not coming back to that bank.

NCB needs to show respect for its senior citizens.

V Blake Carnegie

veronica_carnegie@cwjamaica.com