Show of HandsShow of Hands

Show Of Hands July 1st, 2013 2:41am

Big banks: mostly unethical or mostly ethical?

108 Liked

Comments: Add Comment

theNobamist straight lives matter
07/05/13 9:45 pm

It's Henry Potter vs George Bailey. and Bedford Falls is losing to George Soros.

mountainmafia Boston
07/03/13 10:26 pm

As an employee if Bank of America... Oh yeah. Way unethical

EarlyBird Portland
07/03/13 6:41 am

Banks are not unethical

Reply
Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/02/13 2:07 pm

For all of you that keep saying the banks caused the Housing Market Collapse read this and then comment. www.letfreedomringusa.com/news/read/2245

BCKR Onward and upward
07/02/13 6:05 pm

Given your argument with koozi47 below, this link destroys any credibility you might have had. (That and the statement that "Glenn Beck is out there sometimes" - *sometimes*???)

BCKR Onward and upward
07/02/13 6:05 pm

Specifically, your article is full of flawed logic, incorrect history, straw men, and convenient omissions.

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/02/13 6:19 pm

Whatever man. I'm not here for you to start making personal attacks. If you disagree then fine, but looking for other things to complain about while trying to have a conversation somewhere else is assign. If you have issues with my argument fine...

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/02/13 6:21 pm

We are at an impasse. You should at the least point out the flaws you claim to have found. And I don't see how you've had time to read and analyze that article while carrying on 2 separate conversations with me. I call bs

BCKR Onward and upward
07/02/13 8:08 pm

I apologize if you feel attacked. I'll get to it if I have time, but I have a job and a baby, and I do prefer the other conversation. If you can't see that you've cited a source almost as bad as koozi's, then you've got real research issues.

BCKR Onward and upward
07/02/13 8:32 pm

Ok, she's sleeping. Here goes: Obama led the problem, but Clinton started it - before Obama was even in the Senate.

BCKR Onward and upward
07/02/13 8:35 pm

...
- the 186 members of the lawsuit are hardly a representative sample of all Americans who suffered in the housing crash.
- the rate of foreclosures, even according to the article's chart, accelerated under Bush and decelerated under Obama

BCKR Onward and upward
07/02/13 8:42 pm

- the article uses terms such as "redistribution of wealth" and "Social Engineering" (capitalized) as buzz words meant to bias the reader in a predetermined way without evidence
- same thing goes for phrases like "ACORN foot soldiers"

BCKR Onward and upward
07/02/13 8:55 pm

- in the meantime, Obama's policies had in 4 years created more jobs than Bush's, and the stock market has hit all-time highs; the claims that Obama is bad for the economy were patently and provably false even then

BCKR Onward and upward
07/02/13 8:57 pm

- in addition, the article says that Clinton and Obama pushed subprime mortgages as if the banks had nothing to do with it; in reality, the banks wanted to tap the new market because, getting back to the original question, they knew more than...

BCKR Onward and upward
07/02/13 9:13 pm

...the politicians did that these things were bad for the economy. Not only did they go ahead, they built a futures pyramid-gambling scheme on them, all for the sake of short-term profits. I would not argue that politicians of all stripes had...

BCKR Onward and upward
07/02/13 9:15 pm

...nothing to so with it, but this article is misleading, biased, and almost (but not 100%) worthless.

Honestly, my initial (over-)reaction to it was because I think you of all people can do better.

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/02/13 9:15 pm

• the 186 sample was just an example being used to show typical politics
• The rates of acceleration & deceleration aren't a reflection of either prez's terms just natural progression of the problem
•you find a completely unbiased article on politics

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/02/13 9:16 pm

• do you not agree ACORN is a bad organization?
• the banks were able to provide subprimes since 77' but didn't b/c it's bad business. The Clinton administration put pressure on the banks to use them.

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/02/13 9:21 pm

. Americans bought homes at inflated prices, which were further driven up by unscrupulous lenders and speculators. Collapse was inevitable. <--- Vultures always come out. Still not the fault of all big banks

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/02/13 9:24 pm

As for saying that the Obama presidency is a success, plz don't. That is preposterous. Even democrats don't like him. SoH poll had him at 30% approval this month.

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/02/13 9:29 pm

The stock market is artificially inflated. As soon as the FED quits printing funny money the market will plummet again. Then we get to know the joys of inflation unbridled. My dollar is already worth a lot less than it was just 4 years ago.

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/02/13 9:32 pm

How do you reconcile the job market with what you claim is a recovering economy. Foreign policy under him has suffered immensely. He has proven to be Bush on steroids. Spending us into the poor house

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/02/13 9:34 pm

He allowed Mr. Holder to let black panthers go completely unpunished after blatantly intimidating voters on camera twice. There is a long list of issues with President Obama's judgement

BCKR Onward and upward
07/03/13 12:45 pm

Wow. Yeah, I didn't realize just how incredibly far apart we are. We've made our points, and I'll have to leave it that.

CoffeeNow Powderpuff Leftist
07/02/13 12:00 pm

If you said unethical you are saying over 50% of their activities are not ethical.

Give. Me. A. Break!

Reply
BCKR Onward and upward
07/02/13 1:30 pm

While traditional banking (aside from credit card) practices may not be unethical, all the gambling with other people's money - derivatives, futures, and other such imaginary and abstract instruments that are designed to do nothing but make rich...

BCKR Onward and upward
07/02/13 1:31 pm

...people richer are fundamentally unethical and amoral at best.

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/02/13 1:58 pm

They're designed to make money for the bank, which btw is a for profit business

BCKR Onward and upward
07/02/13 5:30 pm

Yeah, but they're not making profit off of any real goods or services. They're purely inventions to manipulate money for its own sake. That doesn't do humanity any good and has no lasting true value.

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/02/13 5:34 pm

Something does not have to be tangible to have monetary value.

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/02/13 5:35 pm

I sell a stock I've never seen or touched and I make money it's tangible enough for me. That's no different than what the banks do, just less complicated.

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/02/13 5:36 pm

I would also argue that the act of making money for themselves and their shareholders is in fact a service.

BCKR Onward and upward
07/02/13 5:41 pm

I might give you that making money is a service, but I'd say you're wrong about the rest of it. When you buy a stock, you're investing in a company directly. That money goes to real use, not imaginary multiplication and reshuffling. (And yes...

BCKR Onward and upward
07/02/13 5:43 pm

...I get that it doesn't have to be tangible - I did mention services as well.) The banks don't do the same thing. Futures and derivatives and hedges are nothing more than wagers - using other people's money to bet on money to make more money.

BCKR Onward and upward
07/02/13 5:45 pm

When they win the bets, they make money. But when they lose the bets, it's the people whose money they lost that actually lose. That's hardly ethical - and it sure as hell isn't a valuable service in my book. Legality does not equal ethical.

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/02/13 6:02 pm

But, everyone knows how banks make their money and if you choose to use their services then you know what you are getting into. Now if they "bet" with our money and lose its covered by insurance. When has anyone one you've known gone to the bank...

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/02/13 6:03 pm

for money and its not been there for them to withdraw? If that has happened then I could agree with you but it hasn't. Even then the incident of 1 bank doesn't tarnish them all.

BCKR Onward and upward
07/02/13 6:10 pm

OMG you're not really saying that insurance (much of which is government provided) makes it ok?!

Even if you are, that doesn't show them to be ethical, just subsidized and protected. Or that we need to be protected from...

BCKR Onward and upward
07/02/13 6:10 pm

...their irresponsible gambling schemes.

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/02/13 6:13 pm

That's not what I said at all. I was just pointing out that there is a safety net

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/02/13 6:14 pm

Do you have an example of ppl not being able to access their money?

BCKR Onward and upward
07/02/13 6:16 pm

I don't need one. Whether there is a safety net or not doesn't make the behavior acceptable. That thinking would also make bank robbery ok, just because I can still get my insured money afterward.

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/02/13 6:23 pm

Regardless of how you feel about their behavior, I find nothing wrong with it overall. That means we will never agree on this issue, sry but that's just how it is.

BCKR Onward and upward
07/02/13 8:11 pm

Ok, as long as you're saying outright that you have no problem with their behavior, then we are indeed at an impasse - since I believe gambling with someone else's money is wrong, even if it is insured.

Rotavele Alabama
07/02/13 11:15 am

Who cares about the banks ethnicity. Don't let them take our money when they could take money from Asia.

bubbaman
07/02/13 9:23 am

I'd say mostly good. Just enough greedy folks at the top to make the system suck overall though. To bad no one at the top ever gets prosecuted for the crimes committed.

Reply
JHawk3205 MD
07/02/13 12:43 am

I offered my bank the opportunity to raise my interest rates on interest balances, cash advances etc, so that my payments, well over the min, would cancel those balances out, but the bank wouldn't allow it- bank won't divert extra payment amounts to

JHawk3205 MD
07/02/13 12:45 am

those interest balances unless the interest rates are higher, than the main balance rate(credit card debt). They stand to make more from maintaining the same rate on each balance than raising it on select balances. Didn't even ask to lower a rate...

Laurie2133 Rural Southwest
07/02/13 12:16 am

I've been with USAA for over 20 years. I trust them but I don't know where I'd go if I had to switch. I've heard so many horror stories and even had to take calls in banks because customers get so upset.

Doopy Remedial Americanism
07/01/13 6:23 pm

Mostly amoral. They just do what they do, and for the most part, it's. neither overtly good nor overtly evil.

Reply
Injectable Trump Killed Babbitt
07/01/13 2:37 pm

I'm pretty sure that my lowly branch employees are on the level, and treat me with respect, which is the reason that I still bank with BoA. I dont have time to care about the rest of it.

Reply
jvberg Winter has Come
07/01/13 2:27 pm

banks need to be regulated that's why the economy crashed a few years ago and a cause for the great depression

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/02/13 2:05 pm

Really? You sure the housing market crash had nothing to do with this: www.letfreedomringusa.com/news/read/2245

Rotavele Alabama
07/01/13 12:15 pm

Everything is on the paper, you just have to read it. Why would someone let you borrow money without interest when they could get interest by putting it in a savings account.

wiildkat Propertarian
07/01/13 9:22 am

If you've had personal problems with a bank (especially if said problem involves overdraft fees) it was probably your fault. Quit hatin' and take responsibility for the fact that you can't balance your checkbook.

Reply
wiildkat Propertarian
07/01/13 9:22 am

That being said, big banks in bed with government is always a corruption of the law.

anarchy GET OFF MY LAWN
07/01/13 9:51 am

What you're talking about is "Crony Capitalism," but shhhhhhhhh! Don't bring that up here! If you start talking about things like Freddie and Fannie screwing us with the fed's help it confuses the Ocupy idiots. They have a hard time arguing that...

anarchy GET OFF MY LAWN
07/01/13 9:51 am

...the government shouldn't be in bed with big finance, but they ABSOLUTELY should pick winners and losers in things like "Green Energy." After all, these big party politicians have to pay back their campaign financiers SOMEHOW! Didnt you know that?

Squidboy Snarkapottamus
07/01/13 8:21 am

Lying, cheating, forging signatures, breaking laws, all clearly unethical things. I've been personally cheated by BOA & Wells Fargo. Matt speaks for me here: www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/bank-of-america-too-crooked-to-fail-20120314

dudley northern Virginia woods
07/01/13 8:00 am

Lots of laws. Highly professional . Sounds like the government. Uh-oh. But .... I still trust banks.

Reply
gvangijs5
07/01/13 7:59 am

also, ethics are not universally agreed upon. in several religions, it's forbidden to borrow or lend. in Christianity, it's forbidden to lend for profit. in a strictly secular sense, are variable interest rates ethical?

gvangijs5
07/01/13 7:48 am

just because it's business doesn't mean it's ethical. defense lawyers run a business, and some are perfectly willing to defend clients they know to be guilty. yes, big money. also unethical.

Reply
BCKR Onward and upward
07/02/13 1:34 pm

Defense lawyers defending someone they know to be guilty us not unethical.

MrLove lovers, dreamers and me
07/01/13 7:44 am

Scotty doesn't know, that Fiona and me, do it in my van every Sunday. She tells him she's in church, but she doesn't go, still she's on her knees and Scotty doesn't know!

Reply
anarchy GET OFF MY LAWN
07/01/13 8:46 am

Oh man! The emoticons dont work...so much for my clever use of the microphone and musical scales....sigh

anarchy GET OFF MY LAWN
07/01/13 9:52 am

Told you. What happened to the emoticons Tony?!?!

MrLove lovers, dreamers and me
07/01/13 9:55 am

I can see them just fine.

anarchy GET OFF MY LAWN
07/01/13 9:56 am

Hmmmmmm...it's all "??????????" On my end. Hold on. Deleting and reinstalling.

MrLove lovers, dreamers and me
07/01/13 9:57 am

Don't bother reinstalling. ????

anarchy GET OFF MY LAWN
07/01/13 10:01 am

Awwwww. What a nice thing to say.

anarchy GET OFF MY LAWN
07/01/13 10:01 am

Still just question marks on my end.... Grrrrrrrrr

MrLove lovers, dreamers and me
07/01/13 10:03 am

Lol! The emoji aren't working. Sorry for prancing you.

anarchy GET OFF MY LAWN
07/01/13 10:22 am

Wow. You're just all kinds of hateful today.
:-)

MrLove lovers, dreamers and me
07/01/13 10:35 am

????????????????????

TreeHugs Oregon
07/01/13 7:48 pm

????????just testing...

TreeHugs Oregon
07/01/13 7:49 pm

Yep, emoji is broken...

1111111 Wayne
07/01/13 7:26 am

I don't think they're unethical for holding up their end of the deal that consumers, who had every opportunity to read it, signed in agreement. That seems to cover the majority of the arguments here.

Reply
Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/01/13 10:06 am

Yup. It's all the banks fault for not reading the details of the contract to the ppl signing it. Just like its the cops fault for not reading the law to you before you break it. All makes perfect sense. Now go pick me up a foil hat & an Obama sticker

BCKR Onward and upward
07/01/13 11:56 am

Rand2016, I bet a lot of liberals would have liked your comment if you hadn't included that snark at the end.

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/01/13 12:01 pm

Had to make sure they understood the foolishness of that particular argument.

Congressman Louisiana
07/01/13 6:32 am

Any business that's in the business of jacking interest rates and foreclosing someone's home they know are struggling certainly isn't ethical. Don't feed me your "business is business" malarkey. Anyone who does never struggled a day in their life.

Reply
anarchy GET OFF MY LAWN
07/01/13 6:46 am

Banks don't set interest rates, ao dont give me that "malarky"

anarchy GET OFF MY LAWN
07/01/13 7:11 am

..and furthermore, if you took their money, how is it the bank's problem if you default on the terms of the loan? Nobody MADE you sign the loan... conversely, the CRA may have made it so they HAD to issue the loan regardless of your ability to pay.

anarchy GET OFF MY LAWN
07/01/13 7:15 am

How is that fair or even helpful to the loan recipient? *Hint: it's not. In fact, it created a massive mortgage backed securities market whose mortgages were "toxic assets" (or "liabilities" here in the real world) that culminated in a housing crisis

anarchy GET OFF MY LAWN
07/01/13 7:16 am

Were some of the banks to blame? Yup. Should those responsible be thrown in jail? You bet! But the problem was created by government intrusion in the marketplace, so you OWS types that push for more financial regulation are setting yourself up for...

anarchy GET OFF MY LAWN
07/01/13 7:19 am

...more of the same crap. Expect similar results when the chickens come home to roost with the FED keeping interest rates artificially low while continuing quantitative easing with the express purpose of propping up the stock market. It'll be ugly.

ScottyDoesNo DailyWire.com
07/01/13 7:25 am

Ditto everything Anarchy said. And what of the responsibility of the "struggling" borrower? Did they not think, gee, if I take the bank's money and I lose my job, well you think it might be a good idea to save some money for a rainy day??

BCKR Onward and upward
07/02/13 1:19 pm

anarchy: but you've hit on one of the key issues: the people in the bank system who should go to jail go unpunished, or just fined. As long as there are no meaningful consequences, unethical behavior will continue - and only get worse, if history...

BCKR Onward and upward
07/02/13 1:22 pm

...serves as a lesson. We went from pyramid schemes to Enron to the housing meltdown that threatened the world's economy. It only gets worse, and there's no incentive for the industry to change their ways; they gamble with our money and always win.

anarchy GET OFF MY LAWN
07/02/13 1:23 pm

Bkr: agreed, but that doesn't constitute an "unethical business model"...just unethical behavior which can happen in any given industry. They didnt get prosecuted largely because those responsible for doing so (congress) were active participants.

BCKR Onward and upward
07/02/13 1:27 pm

True, but I contend that the lack of consequences leads to more bad actors who act more badly than in most other industries. It becomes widespread and systematic, which I think justifies my "unethical" vote.

anarchy GET OFF MY LAWN
07/02/13 1:37 pm

I still disagree, but hey, thats why there are two options. Banks in general lend money and provide goods and services related to money...they charge for those goods and services, like any other business. I see no inherent malfeasance in banks.

BCKR Onward and upward
07/02/13 5:32 pm

I don't disagree in principle. See my discussion with logicman81 above.

BCKR Onward and upward
07/02/13 6:14 pm

Oops. I guess the discussion is really with rand2016. Fell into *that* pit. ;)

anarchy GET OFF MY LAWN
07/01/13 6:20 am

I have yet to see a cogent argument for "unethical." Banks are a business. Like any other business, the employees have the capacity to engage in unethical behavior, but that doesn't constitute an "unethical business model."

Reply
ScottyDoesNo DailyWire.com
07/01/13 6:25 am

This is OWS madness all over again.

roybiker12
07/01/13 6:25 am

It seems that the argument is "I took the bank's money to buy a house. The bank actually wants me to pay it all back or they will take the collateral I offered to get a loan. Who would have thought?"

anarchy GET OFF MY LAWN
07/01/13 6:30 am

Roy: HOW DARE THEY?!?!? You mean when they upheld their end of the agreement by loaning me an appropriate amount of money using collateral as security for repayment...

anarchy GET OFF MY LAWN
07/01/13 6:31 am

....they expected me and you to uphold OUR end of the agreement and pay them back as was fully disclosed in specific legal terms? Oh the humanity!!!!!!

ScottyDoesNo DailyWire.com
07/01/13 6:34 am

ha ha ha brilliant you two, nailed it!

1111111 Wayne
07/01/13 7:18 am

That's ridiculous! Why didn't they just take the loss? That's what a truly successful, ethical bank would do.

roybiker12
07/01/13 5:54 am

Starbucks return on equity 30% & profit margin 10.4%. Citi Bank is 4.4% & 7%. Is Starbucks more evil than the banks? Those unethical baristas..

Reply
gvangijs5
07/01/13 5:15 am

hmm it seems to me you can do these things through a small credit union...

roybiker12
07/01/13 7:29 am

Major banks don't compete with credit unions. They generally service totally different customers.

gvangijs5
07/01/13 7:45 am

this is true. I mean, one can get loans/mortgages/what have you through a CU and not need to put up with big banks.

Liberty 4,032,064
07/01/13 4:54 am

They are amoral. A bank is a business.

But, between the two, I would definitely have to say "ethical."

Reply
ScottyDoesNo DailyWire.com
07/01/13 4:22 am

If you voted "unethical" then please slap yourself right now. You are the very definition of a low-information voter. How many of you irrationally hate banks yet run to them for a mortgage, student loans, car notes and credit cards?!

Reply
duey in a fools paradise
07/01/13 4:27 am

If you voted ethical then please slap yourself right now. You probably work in the banking industry. Yeah we do transact our business through these monsters that charge 18 to 23 percent interest on CC's or a fee every time you use a debit card.

duey in a fools paradise
07/01/13 4:30 am

especially disgusting since they still get money very cheap. Or how about how understanding they are when you were a customer for 20 years been laid off and how quickly the will foreclose, recall a loan?

ScottyDoesNo DailyWire.com
07/01/13 4:36 am

And why do you choose (free will, not force) to transact business with these evil institutions? They make your life *better*. You can buy a house 15-30 years sooner, a car 3-5 years sooner and earn "rewards" through your credit cards.

ScottyDoesNo DailyWire.com
07/01/13 4:37 am

If they're so evil and charge you exorbitant interest rates, then don't do business with them! This isn't hard. And enjoy renting your entire life and driving around a jalopy you paid cash for.

ScottyDoesNo DailyWire.com
07/01/13 4:40 am

I've got no love for banks and choose to limit my interactions with them. My only loan is a 15 year mortgage that I plan to pay off early and I'll be done with them forever. But I rightly acknowledge they're doing me a great amount of good.

Michael Updating...
07/01/13 4:56 am

Supplying a useful service does not make a person or business ethical.

anarchy GET OFF MY LAWN
07/01/13 5:00 am

Duey: 18 - 23% ?!?!? Fee for using debit cards? You need a new bank (and/or better credit). Good grief. The percentage on your CC's are purely a risk assessment based on the likelihood you'll pay the bank back based on your past payment history.

EarlyBird Portland
07/01/13 5:09 am

One of the first comments here is from a guy who works for one of the 3 largest US banks. He said unethical.

thegovernor
07/01/13 5:16 am

Whenever you do business with a bank you get full disclosures on how accounts work including a schedule of fees sheet. If you chose not to read and understand the disclosures that is your fault and not the banks.

thegovernor
07/01/13 5:39 am

Earlybird, I also work for one of the 3 largest banks and I voted ethical. I can't vouch for all banks but the bank I work for puts all of its energies into 'what's best for the customer' and we work hard to do what's right!

EarlyBird Portland
07/01/13 5:42 am

Governor - I voted ethical. I just tossed that bone in there. :-)

ScottyDoesNo DailyWire.com
07/01/13 5:48 am

Yeah Anarchy, I suspect most of the people upset with banks are folks who misbehaved with money, defaulted on the loan, the bank pursued the matter in accordance with the signed agreement, and now they blame the bank!

thegovernor
07/01/13 5:50 am

No worries. Just wanted to throw my 2 cents in

ScottyDoesNo DailyWire.com
07/01/13 5:53 am

Oh shut up Governor, by your own admission you're a banker and therefor cannot be trusted. How dare you make me take out a loan on a house I can't afford and then make me live beyond my means and go into credit card debt?! You're evil!

JohnnyBraska Nebraska
07/01/13 3:32 am

I tried for a long time to give my business to local banks but one by one they failed me. Then I tried using US bank and they p****d me off. Now I use USAA for everything and they treat me great.

JohnnyBraska Nebraska
07/01/13 3:36 am

I guess my point is I spent a lot of time and money believing big bank were unethical. I should have just gave in sooner and saved a lot of grief

stickman46 NJ
07/01/13 3:04 am

Results surprised. Most are ethical but remember they are profit driven organization and need others (I.e., you should not buy a house if you cannot afford - you need your own common sense which a majority of the public lacks).

Reply
dustbunny
07/01/13 12:21 am

I worked for one of the biggest banks in the country, they truly don't give a damn about their customers, just their wallets.

Reply
twss trump is a garbage human
07/03/13 1:27 am

Dustbunny, I would love to know which bank and why you believe most banks are operating unethically? I also work for one of the ten largest in the US and feel you're mistaken. Please explain, if you would.

Wert A picture of my junk
07/01/13 12:16 am

Banks forget who's money they are charged with keeping. They have forgotten it's not theirs.

Reply
roybiker12
07/01/13 5:56 am

How do they forget that? They work for their shareholders..pension plans, 401k's& individual investors.

pinkyusuck The Carribean. I wish.
06/30/13 11:59 pm

I said ethical because I'm not up on my big banks information and I believe in the presumption of innocence until guilt is proven.

Reply
Mud Constitutionalist
06/30/13 11:35 pm

Most people don't read and understand the fine print. Late one time and they gotcha.

Reply
Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
06/30/13 11:55 pm

Is your name a 45 reference?

JohnnyBraska Nebraska
07/01/13 3:42 am

I walked into US Bank with cash to make my car payment 7 days before it was due. The left the payment processing for 10 days to try and make me have a late payment. I had to call their main office and make a second payment by phone, for an additional $10 fee, to not be late.

Mud Constitutionalist
07/01/13 7:30 am

I'm prolly one that doesn't read all the fine print. I deposited a 6 digit insurance check at Wells Fargo. I only had access to the money in 2 steps. It was almost a week before I had access to all. Why? A way to make more money.

pmurray00 New Jersey
06/30/13 11:22 pm

They're more ethical than people think.

Reply
getupbaby South City
06/30/13 11:07 pm

All they try to do is lend credit to people who shouldn't have it to make $$ off the interest. Pay day loans on a grand scale.

Reply
koozi47 Texas
06/30/13 10:44 pm

Banks are the most evil greedy

Reply
koozi47 Texas
06/30/13 10:44 pm

Corrupt institutions there are

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
06/30/13 10:46 pm

Feel free to prove that or admit you're just popping off at the mouth

koozi47 Texas
07/01/13 12:09 am

Look up who is behind most of the wars in history and who finances both sides of the wars...

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/01/13 12:13 am

That isn't proof of anything. You are still just saying stuff you have no evidence of or links to credible articles backing up your position. I have only seen one credible source/link put up and that was for 1 bank. U can't lump them all in b/c of 1.

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/01/13 12:38 am

Sorry but I don't do the conspiracy nut thing.

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/01/13 12:39 am

I guess you missed the part where I said CREDIBLE SOURCE/LINKS

koozi47 Texas
07/01/13 12:46 am

So all of that's a lie? Did you even bother to read? Don't be so close minded. Just cause George bush told you not to tolerate "outrageous conspiracy theories" doesn't mean you have to listen to him.

koozi47 Texas
07/01/13 12:49 am

Sorry I didn't post you a link from Fox News if that's what you're into.

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/01/13 12:53 am

Lol, whatever man. I'm not a Fox News or CNN fan. You are posting AS YOUR ONLY SOURCE the rants of a guy that was a part of Alex Jones' nut job outfit. If what you're saying is true then there will be more than 1 source. Do better bro

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/01/13 12:54 am

Don't argue with me, convince me you are right by using facts and reason.

koozi47 Texas
07/01/13 1:04 am

Here's a video for you buddy. I suggest you wake up and smell the coffee...

youtu.be/TyVfViRS_2o

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/01/13 1:41 am

Man, I don't think I can help you. I just watched your vid. It's equal parts Truth, lies, & conspiracy. Glen Beck is out there sometimes and he doesn't get that bad. Have a nice life and God bless bro.

danette
06/30/13 10:31 pm

Two words: Credit Union. Banks unethical? Probably not in most cases. A person's best option? Usually not in my experience. Credit Unions are not-for-profit and don't have shareholders to answer to. Usually they offer lower fees and better loans.

Reply
Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
06/30/13 10:34 pm

That's where I have my money :)

thegovernor
07/01/13 5:34 am

But poor services compared to a bank. Most big banks have excellent online services while many credit Unions are limited. There hours are not very convenient either.

danette
07/01/13 10:55 am

I suppose the quality of service depends on the credit union. Shop around and compare, see what works best for your needs. At the end of the day, that's what matters most.

rightway101 the thought provoker
06/30/13 10:27 pm

Banks can't be ethical or unethical, much like how a plant or rock can't be unethical or ethical. Banks are a part of the organic machine that is the economy, personifying them is like personifying a animal.

TomM
06/30/13 9:50 pm

I've heard this story before. Elizabeth Warren criticizing the treasury department.

TomM
06/30/13 9:51 pm

What are you trying to say with this?

Mattiga14 Massachusetts
06/30/13 10:04 pm

Big banks are unethical. Multiple comments saying "libs, provide evidence!!!"

Here is some. Bank laundered and helped drug cartels, just had to pay a fee.

TomM
06/30/13 10:07 pm

I'm sorry about those comments. I don't use that language. I'm honestly interested in why people think big banks are unethical.
This is the first specific comment I've seen thanks.
HSBC got out of this too easy I agree the treasury department ....

TomM
06/30/13 10:10 pm

... should have done more than just settle. This was the complaint Warren had.
However, small banks have bad business practices too. I don't get why big is mostly unethical. Are you suggesting they on average are worse?

Mattiga14 Massachusetts
06/30/13 10:17 pm

No need to apologize.

Bigger banks can have a much bigger influence on the worldwide economy than smaller banks.

Both cod be doing illegal activities, but much more is at stake with big banks

TomM
06/30/13 10:22 pm

I just hate any name calling, it really gets to me... And it just ruins any valuable discussion.
I have to agree both they have bigger influence and the sheer size make them more at risk if getting into any bad business.
I will still hold ...

TomM
06/30/13 10:26 pm

*risk of
... I don't think they are mostly unethical. They offer a service to companies which a small bank cannot meet. They have by their volume a way to make a very efficient business.

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
06/30/13 10:26 pm

Mrs. Warren deserves her position. That is an outrageous amount of corruption (HSBC) and astounding incompetence (Gov).

Mattiga14 Massachusetts
06/30/13 10:29 pm

What services to big banks have that small banks don't?

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
06/30/13 10:37 pm

That is the only credible instance of wrong doing I've seen thus far. Though it is egregious, I can't say that all big banks are unethical based on the evidence available.

TomM
07/01/13 4:37 pm

Mattiga: big banks have a network, they operate all over the country, in other countries they either have branches or deals with other banks. They have expertise to give unique service, currency hedging, corporate bonds etc. They can make big loans

TomM
07/01/13 4:40 pm

...which big companies need. They can through their size offset risks with one customer by having many of them and not all should fail at the same time.

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
06/30/13 9:38 pm

"Big banks are bad!" Why is that? "Because they're big and they work for profit" and you are a volunteer at your work right? "No, I work for $$" so you work for a profit? "No I work for my $$ and they just play w/mine" really? "Yeah, they're evil"

Reply
Vincere Seattle
06/30/13 9:47 pm

Ha, you don't even have to find someone to debate, you can just create an idiot to disprove. That's so much easier!

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
06/30/13 9:58 pm

Just bits from other's arguments and then a little humorous artistic license to finish it off :)

Vincere Seattle
06/30/13 10:06 pm

Yeah, it was actually pretty funny. I just wanted to make sure you know that there's more to the other side than that. Those are arguments from some of the most painfully ignorant people.

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
06/30/13 10:37 pm

Those tend to be the loudest, lol

ScottyDoesNo DailyWire.com
07/01/13 4:27 am

Right on Rand, the very same people who complain about "corporate greed" need to be asked this very important question: "Well have you ever turned down a raise at work?" But of course they're not greedy, it's only the other fellow who's greedy.

MurikaMan 3.14 is not pi
06/30/13 9:33 pm

are you talking about the federal reserve?

Reply
TomM
06/30/13 9:38 pm

Big commercial banks. Question suggest they are unethical. If you think so, please let us know why?

hippiedude fields of green
06/30/13 9:17 pm

I just dont see the need for banks, give me my paycheck in cash and we're good.

Vincere Seattle
06/30/13 9:20 pm

How would you invest that cash?

hippiedude fields of green
06/30/13 9:22 pm

I would put that cash in a safe place and wait until im ready to spend it.

Vincere Seattle
06/30/13 9:25 pm

That's why there are banks. If everyone was paid in cash, nobody would invest. If nobody invests, it's really hard for businesses to start and grow and for new ideas to get funding.

hippiedude fields of green
06/30/13 9:28 pm

Well maybe it would help take us back to a time when you used hard work, determination and the resources you have instead of begging for money to start a bsiness, that in todays economy wont last more than a year because your ideas are old news.

Vincere Seattle
06/30/13 9:32 pm

So if an entrepreneur takes out a loan to start a business s/he is begging? Investment is the grease to capitalism's gears. Without it the resulting economic contraction would lead to higher prices and lower standards of living for everyone.

BCKR Onward and upward
06/30/13 9:35 pm

Hippiedude, you should probably be aware that banking in various forms has been around for at least a couple thousand years. Investing, and small businesses needing startup funds (the "begging" you mention), is also very old. The "good old days"...

hippiedude fields of green
06/30/13 9:36 pm

I just dont get how you can say its ok to make money on money. I just makes no sense, give me your money so i can charge you money for the money you gave me so i can make money? Sounds like a lot so that we can have a bunch of fancy things.

BCKR Onward and upward
06/30/13 9:36 pm

...you refer to were probably not what you think they were.

hippiedude fields of green
06/30/13 9:38 pm

I didnt say the good old days, im sure they were hard as hell, but you see, things were about quality and working through problems rather that borrowing thousands of dollars on a slim chance.

Vincere Seattle
06/30/13 9:39 pm

hippie, To put it in the simplest terms, commercial banks ensure a more efficient allocation of capital. They take deposits from people with extra money and give it to people who will create more from it. The depositors then get a small reward.

hippiedude fields of green
06/30/13 9:40 pm

An part of my reasoning for probably not making any sense to you is the fact that i hate money, i think its the dumbest thing in the world. I would much rather learn how to live on my own with whats around me then worry about my paycheck.

Vincere Seattle
06/30/13 9:41 pm

I think what you're referring to is really irresponsible lending, like what contributed to the Great Recession, not the banking system in general.

Vincere Seattle
06/30/13 9:43 pm

Oh, well then I guess you're just really old school that way. Nothing wrong with that. I think most in our society would choose the current complex system over the rustic lifestyle you propose, though.

hippiedude fields of green
06/30/13 9:44 pm

It all makes sense, its just a lot of work to check my bank account to see how big the number is that defines my worth.

hippiedude fields of green
06/30/13 9:47 pm

Idk man people prefer it but id like to be proud of what i can make and harvest (not just literally) and doing what i really enjoy. Its sad that i put in so much energy into still having no money.

Vincere Seattle
06/30/13 9:56 pm

It would certainly be a lot of hard work, society has its benefits and drawbacks.

dominiclandry
06/30/13 10:13 pm

Making money on money is actually one of the simplest things to understand. If I give you 500k to start a business, and you make 5 million in profits, I am entitled to some of that because you couldn't have made it without me. Easy.

hippiedude fields of green
06/30/13 10:16 pm

No i understand the whole process i just think its stupid. If thats how it is cool i just dont like it, or money in general.

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
06/30/13 10:17 pm

Sounds like you need just a little adjustment in your thinking. Never define your worth by how much money you have. The impact you have on the lives of ppl around you is a much better and more accurate way of measuring your worth.

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
06/30/13 10:18 pm

If you really want to live without money, then do it. This is the greatest country in the world and you can live that way if you so choose

hippiedude fields of green
06/30/13 10:19 pm

Even that aspect i dont feel like much. I have hope though. And i was thinking about that, i get done cooking school in 2 years so i might just pack my stuff and make a living. Its what i want to do

dominiclandry
06/30/13 10:20 pm

How is it stupid? Look, you may hate money but that's how things are. Because of that 500k you made 5 million. Because you made that 5 mil, you were able to hire people and pay them so they can provide for their families. Capitalism at it's best

hippiedude fields of green
06/30/13 10:22 pm

Dude you dont have to tell me, i know its how it works, its just depressing

dominiclandry
06/30/13 10:30 pm

You really are a hippie lol. Why is it depressing?

hippiedude fields of green
06/30/13 10:34 pm

Because to be honest, i want to sit on the side of a mountain, looking over the river on the porch of the home i made, puffing on a fat joint. No money, no worries, just me, the land and what i need to live on.

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
06/30/13 10:39 pm

Sounds like you need to be living in Colorado then. Mountains and weed bro

dominiclandry
06/30/13 10:41 pm

If you had a change of heart, you could always open up a weed shop lol. I'm pretty conservative but honestly I would invest in some land or something for it

hippiedude fields of green
06/30/13 10:42 pm

Ill be out there as soon as i graduate. And me and my friend want to open a burger shop out there one day. So its something to work for.

Gunfighter
06/30/13 9:10 pm

I trust my local credit union (and the underside of my mattress) a lot more than I trust a national bank.

Reply
tdubbs12
06/30/13 9:21 pm

Really? You trust a credit union? I have to use a credit union for my car. Only bill I cannot pay online. Very obvious federal unions are a little behind in the times.

BCKR Onward and upward
06/30/13 9:25 pm

Your credit union is probably atypical. I have my money in three credit unions; not only can I bank with them all online, they all have iPhone apps.

iOS FTW! :)

Gunfighter
07/01/13 7:20 am

@ tdubbs my credit union is online capable and they have a banking app. Plus, their rates are great and I know they won't do anything stupid with my money.

BCKR Onward and upward
06/30/13 9:05 pm

Unethical, but really in the sense that they are amoral. Current law requires them (and all other for-profit corporations) to do their best to maximize profit. That is their priority over anything else. It's not their fault usury is not a crime...

Reply
BCKR Onward and upward
06/30/13 9:07 pm

...though it is shameful that we as a nation allow that state of affairs to continue. And that we somehow can't manage to elect more politicians like Elizabeth Warren who will take that issue on.

TomM
06/30/13 9:09 pm

Are you saying they shouldn't be allowed to make money?
How are they supposed to run a business without a profit?

BCKR Onward and upward
06/30/13 9:27 pm

I'm saying we need to rethink a system that prioritizes profit over things like equity, human rights, and morality. The banks aren't the problem; they (and specifically the way they work) are a result of the underlying problem.

TomM
06/30/13 9:36 pm

Not sure I completely follow you. What's the underlying problem in your opinion?

ClarityRose Now taking suggestions
06/30/13 11:15 pm

I don't mean to butt in, but I think what bckr might be trying to say is that our system rewards banks for sticking it to their customers, basically placing more value on money than on people.

ClarityRose Now taking suggestions
06/30/13 11:16 pm

So the problem is that as a society our values are out of whack. Bckr, am I close?

skacey best poll is evenly split
06/30/13 9:03 pm

All businesses are amoral, and thus possibly unethical. That is because a business is not a person. People have ethics, businesses have bylaws. It's as foolish as asking if cars have ethics.

thebob Medford Oregon
06/30/13 8:52 pm

Foreclosure loans were backed by the government. They had no motivation to help folks refi or renegotiate their loan. Very UN American. The rich got richer....

Reply
TomM
06/30/13 8:55 pm

Big banks lost billions on those loans. Lots of people got help, but some just couldn't be helped.

thebob Medford Oregon
06/30/13 8:59 pm

How could they lose money if the homeowner was paying MIP which was required for loans with less than 20% down. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guaranteed those loans

TomM
06/30/13 9:11 pm

Not all loans are through Fannie or Freddy. Some were taken back because the banks didn't follow their rules, multiple other reasons.
I'd like to know if you think they are unethical, if yes, why?

thebob Medford Oregon
06/30/13 9:53 pm

I don't disagree with your point. But why would a bank hold a 98% funded loan? Or any loan that was not insured? Another point is that I have seen offers on short sales which were at market price which the banks refused to sell.

thebob Medford Oregon
06/30/13 9:54 pm

I will also concede that perhaps through government regulations it may give an appearance of unethical behavior.

TomM
06/30/13 9:58 pm

We may agree more than I first thought. I think the banks acted they way they did due to regulation. It forced them into loosening loan standards to allow everyone to follow the American dream and own a home, remember that phrase...

TomM
06/30/13 10:01 pm

Banks will in some situations not sell homes. Can be due to concerns they will flood the market and further depress prices. Can be because they then have to realize a loss on their books. Can be because they think the market will improve. Who knows.

alexxxr
06/30/13 8:55 pm

When I was 15 I thought that movie was awesome. Then I looked up rebuttals and read about all the inaccuracies, it's better left unseen in my opinion. Some things are insightful but overall it almost causes more misinformation

Mattiga14 Massachusetts
06/30/13 10:20 pm

Dude. That movie is full bs. Seriously, it preys on the unskeptical, and sometimes just lies. Just search some rebuttals to it, they are much better and more accurate.

Mattiga14 Massachusetts
06/30/13 10:21 pm

No offense, just helping.


Then again, you are the troll had has sex with his uncle, you could just be trolling right now

pizza stains
07/01/13 3:36 am

Of course there are inaccuracies in that movie. It's just cool to watch and consider. We all know the Jews were behind 9/11, not the banks

Nikc
06/30/13 8:48 pm

This user is currently being ignored

Reply
Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
06/30/13 8:50 pm

And you have links to back all that up?

TomM
06/30/13 8:52 pm

They foreclose like any small bank would too when people don't pay. yes there were a few bad examples, but out of the total number, they are very few.

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
06/30/13 8:55 pm

Foreclosure only happens when bills aren't paid. Working hard has nothing to do with paying your loan back. When you get a loan you are giving your word that you will repay the $ on terms agreeable to both parties. If you don't follow through with

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
06/30/13 8:55 pm

your end then you lied to the bank and they are within their right to take possession of the property you bought with their money.

Nikc
06/30/13 8:59 pm

This user is currently being ignored

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
06/30/13 9:01 pm

And you do realize that the borrower has the choice to have a fixed rate. If they chose the variable rate then that is their fault.

Nikc
06/30/13 9:09 pm

This user is currently being ignored

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
06/30/13 9:16 pm

That wasn't caused by banks greed, lol.

Nikc
07/01/13 8:27 am

This user is currently being ignored

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/01/13 9:01 am

Wow, man do a little research before you start saying crazy things like that

Nikc
07/01/13 9:22 am

This user is currently being ignored

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/01/13 9:34 am

All you're doing is ranting without the first piece of evidence to back you up. How about instead of calling names and getting mad you actually try to convince me with links to credible sources backing your statements. You can do better than this

Nikc
07/01/13 9:37 am

This user is currently being ignored

Nikc
07/01/13 9:39 am

This user is currently being ignored

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/01/13 10:00 am

I read the about.com article even after you decided to take a parting shot at me. It doesn't say anything about big banks being unethical. And if you knew more about what the article doesn't really touch on you'd know that the subprime market was

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/01/13 10:01 am

created by politicians that wanted to buy votes by forcing banks to loan money to unqualified borrowers. Think about what you're saying versus what the article said. The banks lost money and many didn't survive the crisis. You think they wanted that?

Nikc
07/01/13 10:04 am

This user is currently being ignored

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/01/13 10:12 am

Lol, good luck with life man. I'll leave you with my favorite John Wayne quote since it seems to apply: "Life is hard, it's even harder when you're stupid"

Nikc
07/01/13 10:16 am

This user is currently being ignored

Rage21
06/30/13 8:48 pm

Anyone read about the giant lawsuit going on? Apparently the US Gov is suing a number of the top banks for ~76 TRILLION dollars. It aired on CNN for one day, but the owner of CNN's children were assassinated so they pulled it from the air.

Rage21
06/30/13 8:48 pm

And I haven't heard anything about it since.

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
06/30/13 8:49 pm

Provide a link pls

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
06/30/13 9:00 pm

If that is your source then I would keep looking if I were you. That's just a talking forum/blog. Very tinfoil hatish

Rage21
06/30/13 9:03 pm

You're not going to find any top news media backed sources....did you read what happened to the one media outlet that did report on it???? Why is this not proof enough for you? Who is considered a "credible" source to you?

Rage21
06/30/13 9:11 pm

Last one should be proof enough for everyone.

Quit asking for links if all you're going to do is say "nope nope nope that's not good enough, I'm still right."

TomM
06/30/13 9:20 pm

The market watch link is a press release from spire law group, who are they?
Their website is broken, cannot be viewed on my device. Looks like a trial lawyer of the worst kind.

TomM
06/30/13 9:23 pm

I don't get the part about CNN's children. Are you talking Ted Turner?

TomM
06/30/13 9:25 pm

All the links lead to stories that refers back to this press release by this law firm. It doesn't tell me anything.

tdubbs12
06/30/13 9:25 pm

Haaaa I didn't expect satire from a person from a narrow minded liberal state. I could see other Libby's believing what you say here. CNN is a great news source as well

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
06/30/13 9:28 pm

Obviously a conspiracy theorist. The links only say a lawsuit was filed. That proves nothing. Anyone can claim anything and file a suit. Then just to get the juices flowing a few sites throw in the murdered children's angle. Worthless and sick

Rage21
07/01/13 8:51 am

Everything is a conspiracy you idiot. When two or more people get together and develop a plan of any kind (business plan, school project, etc.) they are conspiring. And I'm not saying that the whole lawsuit is legit. I used it as an example to prove

Rage21
07/01/13 8:56 am

Some of the unethical things the top people affiliated with banks do. Money laundering...racketeering...inside info on stock markets....oh but I know, I'm a conspiracy nut. Nothing bad ever happens in the world. Everyone's a saint.

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/01/13 9:04 am

No you are an angry person with trust issues and no real proof to back your rants. Come on back when you have EVIDENCE, not loons and a cartoon.

Rage21
07/01/13 3:53 pm

You can't even define what evidence is. Thank god you're not an investigator. You'd never solve any cases.

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/01/13 4:10 pm

Though now that I've put out some evidence I'm sure u will be assassinated. Tell Mom I loved her.....

Rage21
07/01/13 4:23 pm

Didn't see a single sliver of evidence that the HSBC helped to launder millions of dollars to the Mexican drug cartel.

if it was like operation fast and furious, where the facts were admitted by the organization that pulled it, then I'd believe it.

Rage21
07/01/13 4:25 pm

*Documented evidence

Also, he's a writer for BBC....enough said

Cruz2016 Rum Bum Beach City
07/01/13 4:26 pm

Whatever, go troll someone else man.