The one wanting to cash the check doesnt have a SunTrust account, but the check is drawn on a SunTrust business account..so the teller knows that the money is there to cover it. From what I understand it is a trick to get the people to open an account at SunTrust for themselves...but it’s still taking advantage of people, and seems to border on predatory practices.
My guess (after working at banks for years) is that they are charging non-customers to cash checks—regardless of where they are drawn.
Banks are all about total customer relationships. The more you have, the less crap you deal with.
Maintaining branch staff is very expensive. The cost per telephone transaction used to be about $4.00 a pop—the cost of an in-person transaction must be about $6.00. So, if you are wasting time transacting with folks who are not customers there is absolutely no benefit to the bank.
Now, many folks will suggest that these people cashing checks COULD become customers. I assure you, the branch people make that very clear—they get incented to bring on new customers.
In the end, if you are a regular bank customer, dealing in a branch, and you have to stand behind someone cashing a check—in a transaction that undoubtedly includes a discussion about, “Do you have an account, I need ID, etc.”....trust me, you would want that person to be dis-incented to continuing coming into the office and consuming time and expense.
So...if you are customer it wouldn’t matter. If you are not...well, go to another bank or check cashing store.