No lie, I had an irrational fear that authorities would be summoned the first time I tried to deposit a large check (from consulting). I asked for a private conference with a banker so that I could explain the circumstances.
Whereupon we had a very classic conversation:
Whereupon we had a very classic conversation:
"I need to deposit a sizable check into my account. It is the proceeds of a consulting contract. I'm then going to wire it to Japan, where I live."
"That all sounds quite reasonable."
"And I just wanted to give you documents in advance of this."
"I mean if we need them we'll ask"
"That all sounds quite reasonable."
"And I just wanted to give you documents in advance of this."
"I mean if we need them we'll ask"
"Just want to make it clear that this is above-board."
"*sigh* Alright. Mr. McKenzie, how much are we talking about here?"
"Five figures."
"Mr. McKenzie, this is the Wall Street branch of (among the biggest depository institutions in the US). That is NOT A LOT OF MONEY here."
"*sigh* Alright. Mr. McKenzie, how much are we talking about here?"
"Five figures."
"Mr. McKenzie, this is the Wall Street branch of (among the biggest depository institutions in the US). That is NOT A LOT OF MONEY here."
(When it arrived in Gifu, it was a lot of money, and earned me a somewhat panicked phone call from the local bank branch, since their bosses at HQ's Compliance Division were wondering why the largest USD wire ever to their bank branch was going to a foreigner's personal account.)
