Posted by Joan/CA on 12/21/10 3:02pm
Msg #365644

Banks Placing Notaries inside Branches???

I did a Signing recently at the branch of a major bank and was told by one of the Managers that the bank is requiring that the Managers and some of the other employees become Notaries so that they can do signing at the branches. I asked if they were going to be doing the loan doc signings and she said that she did not know. She said that a lot of customers come into the bank looking for notaries. Does anyone know anything about this? Are they trying to take our business away from us? Please comment.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 12/21/10 3:15pm
Msg #365646

It's not uncommon here in my area to have a

bank manager also be a notary. And when we took an equity line on our home in CT many years ago we closed at the bank and one of the bank officers was the notary.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 12/21/10 3:15pm
Msg #365647

Which bank?

All of the banks that I know of in California REFUSE to notarize anything unless it is for documents drawn up at that branch for branch business.

It's true that a lot of people go in to banks looking for notaries, because it makes sense... but by CA law, they aren't required to oblige the requests if their employers don't allow it. I've yet to find a bank that will do it, and I ask all the time.

I can't imagine these banks are going to foot the bill for their employees to become notaries. It's really expensive in California to do it.

My guess is that the manager says it, but the corporate offices won't go for it.

Reply by DebMsocal on 12/21/10 4:21pm
Msg #365650

Re: Banks Placing Notaries inside Branches??? B of A

I was recently contacted about a job opening in Simi Valley for B of A and they were looking for a "Licensed" notary. This was for a full time job. I submitted my resume but have heard nothing further, maybe this is a sign of things to come.

Reply by KODI/CA on 12/21/10 5:02pm
Msg #365651

I am in San Diego. My wife and I have been using USE Credit Union for our banking for the last 25 years. I have presented my card to each new manager. USE has a policy of only using their own notaries for both in house and remote signings. Their notaries are full time employees. I rarely get a call, only when they are overloaded. Comerica Bank, here in San Diego, also uses their own employees. I do not know their national policy.

Reply by Alz on 12/21/10 5:14pm
Msg #365652

I'll have to agree with you, Marian. The majority

of my General Notary work and HELOCs are referrals from a major bank in my area. It is not cost effective for some of the larger banks to provide these type of services.

Reply by Julie/MI on 12/21/10 10:34pm
Msg #365674

Maybe courtesy closers have been around for a while, but back in the day, mortgages were signed in the bank and the employees were notaries. No one is taking business away from anyone.

Paying for employees to be notaries, I'm certain is an expense for them and maybe it's late and I'm just not understanding your point. Mortgages have been around for a couple hundreds years in this country, so it seems to me that some think we have more importance and are some reinventing the wheel.
At least bank employees are not going to freak out about upl so truthfully, it may serve the public better to use bank employess that understand the loan, then a contracted notary that cannot explain the apr correctly, kwim?

Reply by Roger_OH on 12/21/10 11:17pm
Msg #365679

VERY common in Ohio...

Just about every bank has a few notaries, and most provide general notary services for their customers. Mostly car titles, insurance claims types of simple docs.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 12/22/10 12:11am
Msg #365684

In California, you'll find that most bank branches DO have notaries anyway... they just don't let their notaries do anything (while at work) unless it's a branch document drawn up at the branch.

I'm not sure why it is so prevalent in California... maybe because state law allows it... but you'd think that some banks would easily do this as a stream of income and marketing potential for new customers.

But, hey, I'm fine with it... I like that state law says the companies can refuse to notarize outside documents. It means more work for me. I hear just about everyday how people were annoyed that they went to several different banks and were turned down.

I've given my business cards to quite a few bank tellers and managers in my area because they're ALWAYS getting asked, and while they might have a notary on staff, they won't notarize Joe Schmoe's rental agreement, even if Joe Schmoe is one of their best customers.