An elderly woman approached the bank counter and handed her card to the teller, politely requesting to withdraw $10. The teller, with a hint of impatience, replied, “For withdrawals under $100, please use the ATM.”
Curious, the elderly woman asked why. The teller, now visibly irritated, handed the card back and said, “These are the rules. If there’s nothing else, please step aside; there’s a line of customers waiting.”
The old woman paused briefly, then handed her card back to the teller with a calm request: “In that case, please help me withdraw all the money in my account.”
Surprised, the teller checked the account, and his demeanor shifted immediately. With a newfound respect, he leaned closer and explained, “Ma’am, you have $300,000 in your account. Unfortunately, we don’t have that much cash available at the moment. Could you please schedule an appointment and come back tomorrow?”
The elderly woman smiled and asked, “How much can I withdraw right now?” The teller replied, “Up to $3000.” Without missing a beat, the woman said, “Perfect. I’ll take $3000.”
The teller processed the transaction with a friendly smile, handing over the cash. The elderly woman calmly took $10, placed it in her purse, and handed the remaining $2990 back to the teller. “Please deposit this back into my account,” she said.
The lesson: Don’t underestimate older people, they’ve spent a lifetime mastering the art of outsmarting life’s little challenges.