We all, including me see things our way.
The person you dealt with is following bank policy. Had you taken the check to your bank where you have an account assuming you balance was equal to the check amount so if it bounces they can, and will take the money from you, they would likely cash it for you.

Family? Many many, years ago an aunt gave us a small check as a wedding present.
I'm sort of laughing-It was a small check, It was a real long time ago. She never gave us a replacement. Her gift cost us, if I recall $20 in bank fees.

I too am uncomfortable. People do not know or understand. We toss about terms like 27 Trillion. Truth reality how many of us know, can fathom one trillion let alone 27 of them?

Today someone stole your checkbook. The thief writes themself a check on your account for $1,000 and then goes to your bank's drive thru. As you say, they honor the check because it THEIR check and take a $1,000 out of your account. What would you do next, I bet it's contact the bank and say, I didn't write that check, why did you cash it?

In that case, I think the bank would be responsible for not verifying the signature. But, if they charged the thief a $7 fee, they would only lose $993.

Good idea to keep your money under your mattress!

Sitting is free.
Great Bank.
:boom:

If your Dad is 87 you need to add your name to his account

Ohiobuckeye
 

They wanted $7. because you didn’t have an account there. I agree with you though I wouldn’t bank there either, but I just about bet you that you’ll have the same issue at all the other banks too!

Shouldn't he have written it for cash and signed the back?

Never had issues with Suntrust and used them for my father's trust account while he was still alive. I used them for a while afterward for myself. They were probably one of the best banks I ever dealt with when it come to securing my money.

Virtually EVERY bank has a non-customer check cashing fee these days. And, then, even if you have an account and are fee-free, you will be forced to deposit the check and wait a day or two if the check amount exceeds what you have on deposit. This is because they put a "hold" on your deposits until the check clears. Banks don't like taking a loss.

Any bank you move your dad's account to will have the same rule if you (a non-customer) try to cash a future check of his.

Odd. We have banked with SunTrust for 18 years. No conflicts.

Campus Credit Union is great. You can use ATM's at Publics, no charge.

Before judging the OP's financial status, by this age, reading comprehension should be pretty well established. If you'd like to work on that, let me know.
The OP clearly stated that his/her father needed cash, not the OP.
And you have less than 10 posts...

They didn't refuse, they wanted to charge a non client a check cashing fee.

As I tell people if you use Zelle in your online banking or in their app you avoid all this stuff and once your account has been established (I believe 3 transactions) receiving money from someone else is instantaneous. You can use other apps/sites too like cashapp, venmo, PayPal and avoid all of this.

Embrace technology it's your friend.

Closing and changing bank accounts at this time is not a good idea. I recently read where many people who have done this are not receiving the stimulus direct deposits from the government. I would hate to go through what ever it would take to retrieve any type stimulus money that may come in the future.

Check cashing
 

OP, sounds like the bank was just trying to protect your fathers money and his account. They don’t know you and you have no account there. Unfortunately, there have to be policies to protect from fraud and abuse. That said, I’m sure you were caught off guard and a bit embarrassed as I would have been. I’m surprised the bank would cash it for $7.00. Times - they have changed. I have banked at BB&T for several years. Professional, helpful and cordial.

Point taken
 

Your point is well taken. :bigbow:

I have banked with Suntrust for years and never had problems. I wouldn’t want to switch.

Why didn’t you just go to the bank your accounts are with and cash it? I have never used sun trust, but citizens never charges me if I need to cash a check no matter what bank the check is written on

Stay away from Suntrust Bank
 

You say your "sick" father is 87 years old. So you go get Dad and bring him to the bank to save $7.00? What intelligence and concern you exhibit! I do hope Dad wasn't too sick, and can find better assistance for future financial transactions.

Because you are an account holder at Citizens! Apples and Oranges

Check cashed on Suntrust Bank
 

I agree with the poster - the check is made out to you, IT'S YOUR MONEY , not theirs.

Big companies, financial institutions, especially cable and cell phone companies, will "charge" and fee you to death. As much as they feel they can get away with.

Ohiobuckeye
 

DonH57, I hear what your saying but you said you used them yourself. Of course if you’re a member of that bank you wouldn’t have any issues with them & you could cash a check for your father but that a check for a family member to Wells Fargo or another bank, I bet you could cash your family members check at one of these. Of course you like Sun Trust, you’re a member there. Change banks once & I bet you Sun Trust won’t cash a check for you then!

IMHO it seems pretty selfish for you to make your 87 year old sick father move his accounts from a bank that he has been happy with and is located close to him for your convenience. Why didnt you cash it at your own bank instead of dragging your sick dad to the bank?

Several folks complained about banks charging a fee for cashing checks for non-account holders. Years ago banks did cash checks at no charge but things have changed because interest rates are so much lower now. In the good old days banks were eager to get people to open savings or checking accounts and deposit money because banks are allowed by law to loan out $10 for every $1 in deposits and they could make a good money on the interest on these loans. Remember when banks were advertising all the time for retail customers and would give you a toaster for opening an account? But today interest rates are so low they're not making as much on loans so are charging fees for services that were formerly free. If you don't like Sun Trust Bank and want to get back them take out a $100,000 home mortgage from them at less than a 3% interest rate and as you make your monthly payments think how much less they are making from you than if you'd taken out the loan in 1981 and were paying 17% interest.

Wow! You got your sick 87 year old Dad out of the house to go to the bank over $7? In the words of Judge Judy "Outrageous"!!!

Wells Fargo will not even let me put money in my granddaughters account because I am not on the account. Seriously?

Of course they won't let you do that. It could be construed as money laundering.