Author Archive
Last week nostalgia swept over me as I stepped inside an architectural masterpiece. An elegant survivor from banking’s bygone era of marble and polished brass, the entire building suggested strength, security, and longevity, all needful symbols for the early 20th century when people weren’t too sure about their banks. I pulled open the massive double doors suspended […]
There was a time when applying for a loan meant sitting on a hard, wooden chair across the desk from a stern-faced banker, nervously clutching your derby, kneading the brim with your fists, and trying to look like a good risk. Not much has changed except for, well, all of the above. You can apply […]
If you tried using a Visa credit card at one of Foods Co.’s 19 California grocery stores lately, you’ll recall being told, politely I hope, “We don’t take that any more.” But that’s old news. What’s new news is that the Visa credit card ban has just been extended to an additional 142 food stores and […]
As of July 1, cashless stores and restaurants in Philadelphia will be no more. Existing cashless businesses will not be grandfathered but required to revert. Outside of a few exceptions such as parking lots, hotels, and car rental agencies, the Philadelphia City Council has deemed cashless businesses discriminatory. If you have a bank account, as […]
Innovation doesn’t always move forward. Sometimes it circles back. For instance, Amazon saved you from having to travel to physical stores, and then circled back and opened physical stores. Starbucks made it so you’d never again have to brew supermarket coffee at home, and then circled back and placed its products in supermarkets so […]