The "Do You Know How Long You Have Been A Member Here?" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Standing inside the Wells Fargo Bank on Rohrerstown Road talking with the female teller.  This is the first time that I have used this particular branch bank and was trying to see if I needed to give them any information that they might not already have on record.  I have been a member of the bank for 72 years.  I first joined the bank when it was known as Hamilton Bank and was located in the first block of East King Street in the city of Lancaster.  My dad took me there when I was 6 years old to open an account so I could begin to place money in the bank and begin to earn interest on the amount.  I often wonder if I knew anything at all that my dad was doing for me that day as we stood in front of the counter and I handed her my piggy bank.  Wasn't long before she returned the bank to me, along with a lollipop, and gave me a small paper booklet that she had written the amount that I had given her that day a long, long time ago.  The Bank of Hamilton was established on January 09, 1865 and later became CoreStates Hamilton Bank.  Today it is known as Wells Fargo Bank and has three locations in Lancaster County.  When I first entered the bank on Rohrerstown Road, I talked to the teller at the first window.  I asked her if I could deposit a check that I had just signed before I handed it to her.  She looked at the check then evidently pulled up my account on her computer.  She looked at me and then at the check...and once again at me before she said..."Do you know how long you have been a customer here?!"  I laughed and said, "I don't think I want to know!"  She called to another fellow worker who was standing closeby.  He came over to her to see what she had in her hand and then looked at me.  I said, "I know, I know...I've been around for a few years.  My wife and I just moved to the retirement community about a mile away and I thought I would change my bank location to your bank.  They were so nice and both welcomed me to their branch of Wells Fargo.  I spent a bit of time filling out papers so I could get a new checkbook and new checks that showed my new address.  Wasn't long before they checked out my paperwork and thanked me for coming to their bank and for being a customer for so long with their bank.  I suspect they didn't have too many other customers who have been a member for over 70 years.  I found out that Wells Fargo Bank was established in 1852, 13 years before Hamilton Bank was established.  Both banks are now one and will be able to handle my banking for me.  Nice to have people working for you who are more than willing to make you feel at home when you enter the bank.  Of course...they do have quite a bit of my money!  They thanked me for still being a customer at their bank and said they will be glad to help me anytime I need help.  I'm sure I will be to the bank often since it is only a hop, skip and  jump from my new home.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.