My dear readers, I want to thank you again for your continued support. My goal is to always bring you the truth regarding businesses which operate in Suffolk County and offer praise to the ones which are "consumer-oriented." On the other hand, there are "those" which are not worth much in the way of "consumer-service and as a result don't deserve your patronage!

One of those, which I'd like to tell you about today is HUDSON CITY SAVINGS BANK.

I was in Riverhead, NY and I needed change of a twenty dollar bill.  I was driving on Route 58 in Riverhead. I spotted a bank in a shopping center. The name on the bank was Hudson City Savings. I pulled into their "drive-thru" teller lane. I pressed the button on the console to alert a teller that I was there.

They have a CCTV system where you communicate with the teller through a camera and monitor setup. I guess that's for safety and I think that's a good idea!

I asked the teller if she could please give me change of a twenty dollar bill. I held the bill up for her to see through the camera.

There is a pneumatic system at this bank where you put the money into a tube and place it in a console, then push the button to "send" it to the teller and you receive what the teller sends back in the same tube.

Well, I never got quite that far! The teller asked me if I had "an account" at that bank.

An account? All I wanted was change for a twenty. It was genuine United States currency and not a check or some other instrument that I wanted to cash for which I would expect that they would certainly require some identification! It was real and bonafide CASH! I wasn't asking for a loan...all I wanted was change!

She said, "If you don't have an account with us we're under no obligation to provide you with change." When I asked her if that was the bank's policy, she responded, "Yes, that's our policy!"

I was stunned! No bank ever asked me if I had "an account" just to give me change! It's just a common courtesy and service that real banks provide!

Well folks, I don't have to say any more do I?

So, this is the lousy and sucky so-called "policy" and attitude that prevails at Hudson City Savings Bank.

If you are seeking a "friendly and customer-service-oriented bank it's definitely NOT Hudson City Savings Bank. I suggest avoiding them like the plague! If I needed to open an account at any savings bank in the entire world, Hudson City Savings Bank is definitely out of the running!

If you have an account at this miserable and customer-hostile bank I would suggest transferring your funds to a more "friendly and service-oriented" bank!