"Just the usual deposit, Brad," the man replied, producing a slim leather folder. Nathan watched the manager take it without asking the man to stand in line. "An established client," Bradley announced pleasantly to the employee behind the closest teller window, as if everyone could benefit from hearing the distinction. "Always a pleasure, sir."
Nathan looked from the polished shoes disappearing into Bradley's office to the abandoned place in the queue. A young woman at the far counter had been following the exchange with an expression she was trying not to show. She wore a white blouse, a navy cardigan, and a narrow name badge that read GRACE HOLLOWAY. Her dark hair was tucked behind one ear, and she kept glancing at the manager as if calculating the price of every word.
"Mr. Stone," she said, "I can verify the check." She gestured toward her terminal, where a customer had just finished an ordinary transaction. "It should only take a few minutes to determine what services we can provide."
Bradley did not even turn fully toward her. "Nobody asked you, Grace. We're very busy."
Nathan looked around the lobby, at the empty chairs and the two tellers waiting between customers. "Doesn't look busy," he said. A small silence spread from the counter to the waiting area. Bradley's smile lost its warmth.
"Fine," Bradley said. "Grace will help you. Be quick."
Grace motioned Nathan toward her window. There was a small photograph clipped beside her monitor, two women and a boy standing together beside a vegetable garden. A ceramic cup held pens arranged by color, and next to it lay a laminated card explaining how to report suspected fraud. Nathan noticed that the card had been placed where customers could reach it without asking anyone's permission.
"Good morning," she said quietly. "I'm Grace."
"Nathan," he replied. "Just this check, please."
She scanned the document, examined the signature and the available verification information, and asked the ordinary questions a bank employee should ask. Nathan provided identification when requested and answered without protest. She neither assumed that his clothing meant he had no money nor pretended that verification could be skipped because he was friendly. When she had finished the appropriate checks, she looked up and gave him the first genuine smile he had seen in the building.
"The check is valid," she said. "Since you're not an account holder here, the cashing options depend on the issuing bank and our posted policy. But I can explain what we can do today."
"That was fast," Nathan replied. "And yes, I've been thinking about opening an account."
Grace glanced at his identification again, then at the screen. "Would you want basic checking, or were you interested in something else?"
"Something simple," he said. "Nothing fancy. An account where a man can put his paycheck and take out his own money when he needs it."
"Then that's where we'll start." She pulled up a page with the available accounts and turned the monitor so he could see the differences. "I'll go over the monthly fee, how to avoid it, and what happens if the balance gets low. I also need to explain the identity verification we do for every new customer."