Bank Bans Cellphones

First National Bank branches in Chicago are banning the use of cellphones in their lobbies, reports the Chicago Tribune, citing a fear that robbers could be using them to coordinate their armed robberies. "We ban cell phone use in the lobby because you don't know what people are doing," Ralph Oster, a senior vice president, told the Chicago Tribune. Cell phone cameras are also a worry.

Oster said there have been holdups in which bandits were on the phone with lookouts outside while committing bank robberies.

Many British Banks require people wearing concealing clothing, such as motorbike helmets to remove them when entering a branch, but we have not yet heard of a branch banning the use of cellphones. Indeed, judging by how many people in the UK tend to continue their phone conversations during being served at the cashier desk, there could be a mini-riot if such a ban was attempted here."

Posted to the site on 7th August 2006