First Community Credit Union

[Bill]

Browsing the 30.06 list I ran across the credit union were I just moved one of my accounts to. I am not sure how I missed this but have only been inside once and I am sure I carried, but they are posted. Wow, I just did not think when signing up to look, maybe it was the community part of their name that just sounds like wholesome, GOD fearing, gun loving people,

So, I now have decide to move the account even though I do not visit my wife does and she carries. Its not a very active account but we do need to go inside from time to time. My withdrawal while in there eyes may not be important, 6 digit, it might get there attention. I want this to reverberate all the way to the top. I plan on a letter and to meet with the branch manager when I close my account. I wish I had about twenty others that could all do the same

Any idea's other than news media to press home this point.
Bill

[seamusTX]

If you have a balance with six figures to the left of the decimal point, I think you can get their attention and possibly get them to change their policy. Several forum members have posted good letters to various businesses on this subject. You can plagiarize one.

I doubt the media would see this issue in a favorable light. "He wants to take a gun into a bank!"

- Jim

[joe817]

If you have a balance with six figures to the left of the decimal point, I think you can get their attention and possibly get them to change their policy. Several forum members have posted good letters to various businesses on this subject. You can plagiarize one.

I doubt the media would see this issue in a favorable light. "He wants to take a gun into a bank!"

- Jim

I agree with Jim. With a sizable account you carry influence with them. A serious talk to the manager might bring you acceptable results.

[sss]

Let me know how it works out for you. I have a few savings and checking accounts with them as well, but I don't think I'm ready to move elsewhere just yet. I mostly handle my transactions by mail, in the drive-thru, or via ATM so I only really have to go inside when I need something out of my safe deposit box.

[bigmojo]

Well crap! I have three accounts there too, luckily I never go in. I guess I will be moving my money to Frost next week.

[Bill]

before you do maybe we should do this in group sort of way. My biggest delima is where to move the funds. I am looking at other banks that are close

[seamusTX]

Writing up a group letter is a good idea.

Just be aware that you are effectively "outing" yourself as a CHL holder. Some people don't want to do that.

With the amount of money that you're talking about, you might want to look into a cash management account with a broker like Merrill Lynch or Edward Jones (not recommending either, but they are the big names). You can handle transfers electronically and get a better return than the 2% or so that credit unions give nowadays.

I have never seen one of these offices posted, the few times I have gone to them.

- Jim

[Bill]

went by Community, and the manager was polite but was of no help, he even said he could not have an opinion because he is an employee. I do have the name and number for the CEO, and the the person responsible for bank rules. I can see this might go nowhere, but I am going to give it a try.
For now, Bill

[sss]

Keep up the good work and please keep us posted, Bill. I've been dreading going to the safe deposit box for weeks now because disarming in the car is such a pain...

[Tass]

I'm a member also...rarely have a need to go into the actual building proper. Now that there is a branch at my local Kroger, I have even less reason to visit the main branch. I have not noticed a 30.06 sign at Kroger. FWIW, i haven't seen any of the grocery store branches posted. Anyone else?

Tass

[jimlongley]

Just be aware that you are effectively "outing" yourself as a CHL holder. Some people don't want to do that.
- Jim

I usually try to couch my letters in terms that expressly do not state that I am a CHL holder, but that I object to their discrimination against a more law abiding segment of the populace as a class, etc, etc, etc . . . I never actually say I am a CHL holder and if/when they write back stating that I said as much, I disabuse them of the invalid assumption.

Early on my letters used language like "As a CHL holder I am . . . " but now I use language more like "Are you aware that CHL holders . . ." I feel that the later language is more neutral and actually implies a more widespread boycott.

I also have changed the language on my cards so that it doesn't say "As a CHL holder, I . . . " opting instead for "CHL holders . . ."

I'm a member also...rarely have a need to go into the actual building proper. Now that there is a branch at my local Kroger, I have even less reason to visit the main branch. I have not noticed a 30.06 sign at Kroger. FWIW, i haven't seen any of the grocery store branches posted. Anyone else?

Tass

When I first went to work at Alcatel, I joined Community Credit Union because they had an onsite branch (I always wondered about that deal) but when I discovered that their other branches were posted 30.06 (albeit improperly) I resigned my membership with a letter explaining why I wouldn't support them.

I got back a reply that they would be happy to have me do business with them via drive-up or at a non-posted branch (which did not exist except for the one on Alcatel's property, which would have put me in violation of company rules) I had to reply to point out that my boycott was of a company that would post ANY branch and that my principles would not allow me to do business with them anywhere.

I still hold that point of view. If you boycott a particular branch because it is posted, but still do business with them at places that are not posted, you are not having any effect on them in any way shape or form. It's the company that has the policy, and by doing business at un-posted places, you are enabling them, so stop doing business with them, anywhere, and let them know why, and point out that not posting ALL of their branches is corporate hypocrisy at best, so they really need to have a large and ugly sign posted in every Kroger.

[seamusTX]

I usually try to couch my letters in terms that expressly do not state that I am a CHL holder,..

I've done that also; but realistically, who else is going to write such a letter?

I had a long essay on CHL confidentiality published in the newspaper, back when the legislature debated it in 2007. That newspaper has a circulation around 30,000; and nobody I know said Boo to me.

http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... f=7&t=7373" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- Jim

[Bill]

Jim would it be possible for you to write the letter, I hate to write ( High School and some collage sports preempted all English classes) I could care less about Community, I only transferred one account from Washington Mutual before they bit the dust. Thanks, Bill
You can PM me if you like

[Drewthetexan]

Well crap! I have three accounts there too, luckily I never go in. I guess I will be moving my money to Frost next week.

Frost has no 30.06 posted, at least at the branch I go to. And I like them much better than any other bank I've been with or investigated - maybe with the exception of Texas Trust Credit Union, but they were also posted 30.06. I was with Compass until they adopted BofA style banking practices and then sold out to a Brazilian bank. The final straw was when they accused Visa of a security breach resulting in compromised debit card info and such in order to provide a cover story for issuing new debit cards with the BBVA logo on them to all of their customers.

[seamusTX]

Jim would it be possible for you to write the letter,...?

Many things are possible.

I thought I had seen a couple of good letters posted here, but they were too specific to the individual's case. So here goes:

Dear Sir or Madam [as the case may be]:

I have been a customer of First Community Credit Union for ____ years and currently have an account balance of $___,___,___,000. I have no complaints about our business relationship.

However, your facility at ___________ is posted with a sign that refers to Texas Penal Code section 30.06, prohibiting persons with a concealed handgun license (CHL) from carrying a concealed weapon there.

The requirements to obtain a CHL are strict. Applicants must demonstrate knowledge of the law and proficiency with a firearm after passing a course taught by a state-licensed instructor. They must pass state and federal background checks. These standards are similar to those for police officers.

Licenses are not issued to people who have felony or domestic violence convictions or recent misdemeanor convictions, have been treated for mental illness, alcoholism, or drug addiction, have a restraining order against them, or owe delinquent child support.

In the 14 years that CHLs have been available, more than a 300,000 Texans have exercised this right. Analysis of arrest records by the Texas Department of Public Safety shows that CHL holders have far fewer run-ins with the law than the general population (http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administra ... rt2007.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;).

They do not have guns "go off by accident" or threaten public safety in any way.

In short, CHL holders must be model citizens to begin with and are likely to stay that way.

Furthermore, signs prohibiting licensed CHL holders do nothing to deter criminals.

I am asking you to consider removing these signs.

Please call me at ___-___-___ if you want to discuss this issue further.

I hereby place this letter in the public domain. Anyone can use it verbatim or change it as they please.

I would not threaten in the first communication to close my account. That's just not the way I work. I try the velvet glove before the iron fist.

- Jim