Ft. Knox Ntl. Bank removes signs; Customer robbed at Fifth-Third

by Chad D. Baus

Activists throughout Ohio are continue to make OFCC aware of successes in educating business-owners about why making their stores criminal protection zones is a very bad idea. We can't publish every story, but the following emails detail how just one persistent customer can make a difference:

April 23: Just left my bank, First Knox National, Centerburg office - they are banning firearms, as is the Mt. Vernon office. I should say "former bank" - I am closing my savings and company accounts. Have been talking to the managers, and just sent a letter to the Pres. & CEO of First Knox National to close my accounts.

April 26: Just sent another letter to First Knox National requesting that they
provide an armed guard to walk me to my car when my savings account is closed
later this week (it's not just a few Thousand). I also asked if they have considered what will happen when
people go in to draw cash from their SS and other checks that are direct-deposited about the first of the month. What easy pickings!!!! I advised that the Co. account will be closed when the uncashed checks clear - that one had deposited over [middle-six figures] last year. I think this is only a knee-jerk reaction that will cease, but if they are that stupid I do not want to deal with them.

April 28: When I got home last night had two messages from the President [of Ft. Knox Ntl. Bank]. I reached him this afternoon about 2:45, and he said they
revisited the issue and the signs are coming down. They may not all be down today but will by the end of the week!!! He said my letter and email was not the
reason they just decided that it did not make any sense.

Whatever the reason Ft. Knox National believes they removed their signs, they should be told it was the right decision - it just doesn't make any sense for banks to advertise that everyone inside is defenseless.

Ohio has one of the highest rates of bank robbery in the nation. One Fifth-Third bank customer in Michigan was unfortunate enough to discover just how disappointing or even dangerous banking can be while defenseless.

May 4, 2004
Toledo Blade

Hillsdale businessman robbed outside bank

HILLSDALE, Mich. - Hillsdale police are searching for a man who robbed a businessman who was about to make a bank deposit yesterday.

The businessman, whom police declined to identify, was approaching Fifth Third Bank at Broad and Bacon streets about 9:30 a.m. when the robber approached from behind, grabbed the deposit bag, and fled on foot, police Chief Bill Whorley said.

Two witnesses pursued the offender in a vehicle and managed to wrest the deposit bag from him but could not detain the man. Chief Whorley said he did not know if the money had been recovered. He described the suspect as a white male about six feet tall with graying hair and wearing a blue, possibly denim, jacket.

Commentary:
Fifth-Third Bank is posting signs throughout it's Ohio stores. It is not yet known whether or not they are posted in other states, but expect to read more headlines like these outside Ohio Fifth-Third banks if they refuse to remove their signs.

Some other Ohio banks are disarming their customers as well. Of course, their signs will do nothing to disarm the robbers. To see the list of banks, click here