A Typewriter? Seriously?
by Sean McDonald
Anyone under age 25 who is reading this may not even know what a typewriter looks like let alone what it does and how it works. But I digress….
A few weeks ago I walked into a credit union as part of my ongoing research into credit union operations. The very first thing I noticed was the black typewriter sitting at the desk of the receptionist. Yes, a typewriter. No joke. There it was in all of its antiquated ugliness. I was immediately disappointed. I wasn’t disappointed that the credit union was still using a typewriter (after all they actually can be useful when updating documents like titles, etc.) I get that (even though technology has provided us with tools to use that would make the typewriter completely obsolete.) No, I was disappointed that I saw the typewriter. Not only did I see it….it was the first thing I noticed. Now imagine how any young professional might feel if a typewriter was the first thing to be seen as they walked into that credit union. One word comes to mind – old. If your credit union still uses a typewriter, that’s fine. But please hide the damn thing!
As credit unions continue to struggle with attracting and retaining younger members (you know…the ones that they need in order to survive long-term,) I often wonder why it is that these same credit unions insist on hanging onto things that are outdated, obsolete, or just plain silly.
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