Saw this sign on the door to my bank-- Please remove hat, sunglasses,

[katmondoo]

and hoods before entering. This is Florida, I always wear sunglasses and a hat for protection from the sun. I will not remove either my hat or my glasses. I went in with my sunglasses and no one said anything. This particular day I was without my usual hat, forgot to put it on. Any one else have this notice?

[Skidmore]

1. Haven't seen that notice, but they want you to smile pretty for the camera

in case you want to rob the place. You'll be easier to find later.

[meegbear]

2. They have it here in MA ...

kind of a reverse way of seeing potential robbers - they'll leave them on.

[icymist]

22. But, what if I'm Illiterate?

eom

[Marnieworld]

3. obviously this is so their security cameras can see you

It makes sense to me.

[cigsandcoffee]

4. That seems fair to me.

Bank robberies are pretty common, and hats, sunglasses and hoods are partial disguises. Why put people on guard when it's not really that bright & sunny inside a bank anyway?

[uppityperson]

5. This is to make sure your face is visible if you try to rob them.

I have no problem doing this in banks. A friend worked in one and it was robbed, chose her station to do it. No problem with it. You can think of it as manners, to not cause anxiety among the other people in the bank.

[Armstead]

6. Yup -- It's in banks here in New Engand

[radwriter0555]

7. In europe the banks ALL have massive security doors that prevent easy

access AND easy exit. They use double doors. You push the button, one door slides open, you step into a secured entry way. That door then closes and the other then opens. If you have too much metallic items, the alarm sounds alerting everyone in the bank LOUDLY.

THEN the door opens and you can enter the bank. You must exit the same way, so if you rob the bank, you get locked in between the doors.

Guess what? NO BANK ROBBERIES IN EUROPE!

It's pretty darned simple, safe and effective security...

[drm604]

11. No just Europe.

My local bank in the Philly, PA suburbs has the same exact arrangement.

[CBGLuthier]

12. A bank is robbed every ninety minutes in Europe

Took about 5 minutes of google research to refute the "no bank robberies in Europe" claim.

Now apparently this is a new thing and robberies have been on the rise but all the security in the world will not stop a determined man. That applies to robbery as well as assasination.

[rinsd]

15. Largest bank robbery ever just happened a couple of years ago in Ireland

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4154657.stm

[radwriter0555]

19. It was indeed a large robbery, but it wasn't a hand-the-teller-a-note

type. It was a hollywood style plotted and planned caper.

And as far as the claim that a bank robbery occurs in europe every few minutes, I haven't found anything that establishes that statement as fact...

I could change my mind if presented with data, but I can't seem to find any.

[pitohui]

21. well that is just peachy keen

here in louisiana we have such things as banks in temporary trailers

you know what? i don't care how they do things in europe

there are many poor states or poor regions of the usa where we still need banking services yet we can't afford to put up a maximum security prison watchtower

the OP was talking abt florida, and i live in louisiana, i can guarantee that many small bank branches are in buildings that you might consider "iffy" but what is our option? no banking service at all?

no, i don't care how you do it up north

blame the victim don't sit well w. me

[WinkyDink]

24. And you don't have to remove any accessories or eyeglasses.

[catmandu57]

8. We have that on the door to our city hall

my glasses automatically darken, but they know my gimp, and I don't wear a hat.

[nannah]

9. I saw sign at Anchor Bank in Olympia, WA

I mentioned it to the teller because to me the sign emphsized the vulnerablility of bank tellers. In Olympia two tellers were shot and killed during a bank robbery some years back. I always remember the incident because I knew one of the tellers through business. She had a family and young children. I don't think removing sunglasses or hats is too much to ask

[nosillies]

10. My FL bank does this also.

We have to buzz to be let in, and they flat out won't open the door until you obey.

I have no problem with them trying to make me safe. And I've seen no evidence of any type of racial profiling at my bank, because I'm a blonde female (even carrying a baby at times) and they've refused me entry until I pushed the glasses on top of my head.

[Scout1071]

13. They aren't asking you to sunbath in the bank.

And it is not unreasonable to ask you to remove your hat and glasses. I would hope that you wouldn't have to work as a teller and have a gun shoved in your face by a man/woman wearing sunglasses and a hat before you comply with such a simple request.

It's a simple courtesy that helps protect the people that work there.

[KurtNYC]

14. I went into a grocery store in Los Angeles wearing a full head

mask (it was Halloween) and they freaked out. Anti-robbery thing; same deal as banks.

[LostinVA]

16. My bank in VA has been doing that for years -- it's a safety issue

Specifically because of robberies. My mom's bank in NC has been doing this for over ten years. I see nothing wrong with asking customers to do it -- it helps everyone who's in the bank.

on edit: they ordered a man to leave once who refused to remove his hood and wraparound sunglasses. When he started yelling at them, they informed him they had just alerted the police. I left.... just in case. Taking off your sunglasses is not a big deal... especially since you are INSIDE.

[WinkyDink]

25. What if they are PRESCRIPTION lenses?

[seabeyond]

17. never saw it, but i would tell them to give me my money. i wear

sunglasses on winter, overcast days, sunny days, inside and out. no one is going ot tell me not to wear my sunglasses

oh oh oh on edit: someone did. getting my passport. to take an oath she told me to take off glasses. if passive hubby wasnt there, i would have been more vocal than i was, though still my sneer and disdain for such an order was evident and clear

[leftyladyfrommo]

18. Almost every bank robber wears a hat and sunglasses

Even banks here make you do that.

Don't take it personally.

[slackmaster]

26. In that case they are discriminating

Against bank robbers.

:dunce:

[pitohui]

20. most banks do this and people should be more respectful

it is a shame that people are so disrespectful as to go around indoors wearing sunglasses and a hat when it takes 2 seconds to remove these items, were they brought up in a barn?

most people who are wearing sunglasses/hat/hoodie to obscure the face intend to rob the bank and that is why they are wearing these items indoors

if you have a condition requiring that you always wear sunglasses, fine, but you must still remove your durn hat

what is wrong w. people?

there is no god-given right to be a jerk and fill a clerk with fear every time you walk in the door, when a moment's courtesy would reassure the clerk that you aren't there to stick a gun in her face

it's a shame that banks have to put up signs reminding people to treat each other w. very basic etiquette but apparently this is what we've come to

if a person is honestly unaware of how to behave indoors, then they can always use the drive-up window!

[WinkyDink]

23. I think asking a woman to remove her hat is nasty. Maybe she has,

as I do, thinning hair. It's a serious matter to a woman.
Not to mention: it is RESPECT WHEN a woman wears a hat. Any church-goer would know this.
And what about those prescription specs that darken automatically indoors?

I don't know; I think this is way out of bounds. WAY.