Really "Grand" Opening

The grand opening of Washington Mutual's new branch in Livermore, California was on Friday morning, and at 9 a.m. sharp the doors opened for business for the first time.

The first customer walked in, walked up to the teller closest to the door, and said something like, "This is a stick-up - give me money." Which the teller did - without even so much as a withdrawal slip.

When last seen, the bank robber was walking northbound up the main street of town.

The bank was immediately closed, but reopened in the afternoon - with what was termed a "continuation" of the grand opening celebration.

Copyright © 2005 Bankers' Hotline. Originally appeared in Bankers' Hotline, Vol. 15, No. 2, 4/05