#small is better

[shoyu-ice]

Also based on an actual conversation

Weiss is not bitter at all. Not at all

[simplebank-blog]

Why join or leave a “big bank”

The reason why I joined Bank of America is simple: no other bank would open an account without a Social Security Number. Months later, I got my SSN and I remained with Bank of America, for three reasons:

a branch literally 20 feet from my home

an excellent online bank account

the lack of a better alternative

I did spend time looking for a Credit Union that would accept me, or for a smaller bank with a good-looking and usable online service, but I couldn't find any, until I became a customer of Simple bank.

Now that I found a bank that works, I start getting concerned about what will Simple bank do with my money. Honestly, I don't know. I don't know anything about the financial groups behind Simple bank. I wish they would promote Ethical Banking but I don't know much about them.

What I know, though, is that leaving my money with Bank of America or any other “big bank” won't make much good to the world. Bailouts, bad mortgages, arrogance, well… the list can be long, just watch this funny/tragical episode of The Daily Show: A Look Back at Banking.

Yet, I have one more reason to drop BoA in favor of Simple: I love to support small, new, independent acts. I love to shop at small groceries, to attend tiny concerts of local bands, to buy art and clothes from young creators, to promote college radios. I don't feel the pressure of having to “belong to something bigger than me”. I like to keep things at a human level, and Simple bank somehow dropped in the right spot.