Staff WriterThe current on-campus branch of the M&T bank at the University Union will be open for an additional hour this week to accommodate students.
At the beginning of every semester, Binghamton University students are greeted by a sight that has become an unofficial tradition on campus - the lines at the M&T bank teller.
Refund checks from financial aid are issued by the student accounts office during the first week of every semester and students rush to the on-campus bank to cash them.
With only four tellers, the line snakes around and fills the new Union's lobby. This isn't a new problem and was a problem with M&T even at its former branch in the old Union.
"It's really bad," said Sherin Varghese, a junior biology major, of the lines. "Maybe they can have more tellers or stay open later."
Some students were more understanding than others.
Camelia Aguayo, a senior psychobiology major, thinks the lines are to be expected. "It's the beginning of the semester," she said, "[the lines] come with the refund checks."
Suzanne DiLella, M&T's area manager for Broome County, said they are aware of the problem and are trying to think of ways to remedy it.
"We have the office staffed to capacity," DiLella said, "but, obviously, it's not working."
DiLella, along with University Union Director James Koval, has been considering different solutions but has not come up with a feasible plan.
One suggestion was to set up tables at locations other than the M&T office, such as the Mandela Room. But this plan didn't push through because it would compromise security.
"We do [tables] for signing up new accounts," Di Lella said, "but it's just unsafe when you have money."
Koval agrees with Di Lella.
"If [the students] were just depositing [the checks], then that might be okay," Koval said. "But they're also withdrawing and it's just hard to handle the money outside the office enclosure."
Di Lella also ruled out the idea of using the old M&T branch on campus, saying they have already removed security devices from the facility and it would cost them extra lease space.
Peter Staas, a senior English major, suggested approaching the problem from a technological angle.
"I know a bank near my house that has ATMs that cash checks, maybe [M&T] should get one of those," Staas said as he waited on line.
DiLella said a new ATM is one of their options at the present.
"We don't have those ATMs yet in the area but we'll look into that," she said, adding that it may not be much help because checks over a certain amount would still have a hold policy.
Di Lella added that they have been meaning to add another 24-hour ATM on the BU campus to remedy another problem. The 24-hour ATM currently at the new Union is locked in when the building closes.
M&T is talking with the University about direct-depositing the refund checks according to Di Lella. This, she said, would make it easier for both the students and their staff around the rush periods.
Di Lella promises to work on the issue, saying the bank is here to serve the BU community.
"We want to do everything we can to make banking convenient for the students," DiLella said. "We'll do what we can to help."
