Phone-cam quickie: A pen earned

With the recent opening of a branch between Park Avenue South and Lexington, Citibank now very much owns 23rd Street.  The new branch joins those at Eighth Avenue, Sixth Avenue, and Broadway as well as a kiosk just off 23rd on Park and an ATM location at 7-Eleven.  For an anal-retentive spendthrift that is troubled by the question "Do you wish to accept this fee and continue the transaction?" this is excellent news.

With a ConEd refund check to be deposited after bank hours, there was a revelation about all of these Citibank locations.  Not one has a working pen.  While Citibank may be trying to become the Starbucks of banking, perhaps they should keep in mind that Starbucks would never open an outlet and not provide cups.  Before opening another branch, perhaps an investment in pens could be made.