Tasha -- Who are "they" in your post? Is this a decision made by management or a recommendation from an auditor or, perhaps, a requirement of your bank's bonding company? This is ultimately a policy decision of the bank's management and/or directors, which may be influenced by bonding company or audit concerns.
I agree that there needs to be a "Plan B" in the policy for when that scarce officer isn't around. You can't easily tell a customer to come back next Tuesday when Clyde comes back from his Vegas vacation!
I'll second Kate's comment that the second signature really ought to be more than sticking the check under the verifier's nose. If it's loan proceeds, there ought to be a check that the loan's been duly approved, etc.; if it's a customer withdrawal, someone should check to ensure the withdrawal document's signed, the balance was checked or whatever other controls need to be verified.
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John S. Burnett
BankersOnline.com
Fighting for Compliance since 1976
Bankers' Threads User #8