First Merchants bank is primarily located in small towns in central Indiana (although they have expanded into Indianapolis also in the last few years)
We were a customer because we used a small bank in Crawfordsville when we purchased our home in 1998. That bank was bought by a Lafayette bank and eventually by First Merchants. We kept a personal checking and savings account there. Last year, I used the Carmel branch for a withdrawal and noticed a "no firearms" sign on the door. I conducted my transaction and asked if a manager was available. The manager was not available, but he did call my back later that day.
I expressed my surprise and concern at the sign. The manager said that a district security supervisor had directed the "no firearms" signs at all First Merchants banks months earlier. I explained that being the case, that we would at some future point (when convenient) be moving our funds.
I soon after saw the same sign at the Crawfordsville branch. For some reason, the Michigan Rd branch never has put up a visible "no firearms" sign. I don't know if they have a sympathetic manager or just never got their sign up. In any case, we finally got around to opening a new account elsewhere today and we closed our First Merchants checking and savings.
Unfortunately, it was not a manager that helped me but the person who did close the account did ask my reasoning. I hope it gets back to management. I'm also considering sending back a copy of my final statement just to be sure they know why we left.
We were a customer because we used a small bank in Crawfordsville when we purchased our home in 1998. That bank was bought by a Lafayette bank and eventually by First Merchants. We kept a personal checking and savings account there. Last year, I used the Carmel branch for a withdrawal and noticed a "no firearms" sign on the door. I conducted my transaction and asked if a manager was available. The manager was not available, but he did call my back later that day.
I expressed my surprise and concern at the sign. The manager said that a district security supervisor had directed the "no firearms" signs at all First Merchants banks months earlier. I explained that being the case, that we would at some future point (when convenient) be moving our funds.
I soon after saw the same sign at the Crawfordsville branch. For some reason, the Michigan Rd branch never has put up a visible "no firearms" sign. I don't know if they have a sympathetic manager or just never got their sign up. In any case, we finally got around to opening a new account elsewhere today and we closed our First Merchants checking and savings.
Unfortunately, it was not a manager that helped me but the person who did close the account did ask my reasoning. I hope it gets back to management. I'm also considering sending back a copy of my final statement just to be sure they know why we left.