I didn’t want much. Or at least I thought I didn’t want much.  In preparation for an upcoming family foray to the Bahamas I recently visited my local Huntington bank branch to secure some foreign currency for said trip.  I just always like to have a little money from  the country I am visiting for tips and coffee stops and whatnot.  Call me prepared.  But I like to be ready.   I know we can use credit cards.  I know that they will take US currency.  But there is something about the whole experience that tells me that having “their” money is useful.

No problem.  Funds would be taken from our account and Bahamian money ordered.  It was back in a flash–like the very next day.  I was impressed.  When I went to pick up the currency and it was retrieved from the vault I made a comment about the bulk of the package that was being given to me.  I said “I didn’t really order that much money!”.  Upon opening the package we discovered that the currency was almost all in one dollar bills.  Yes.  $365 was in ones.  Seriously????   I know I said it was for tips and stuff but the bloody money would barely fit in my purse!!!!  I kind of started laughing about it and asked if there was any way to get larger bills. By this time the whole bank was involved in viewing my stack of money.  Suggestions were being offered. Sew it in a teddy bear. (I don’t think that would be a red flag at customs!)   Give each person you are traveling with a stack.   It went from funny to ridiculous.  Everyone was enjoying getting a good laugh about my humongous stack of money.  After a couple of phone calls we were informed that we could send it back through the system but there was no guarantee that it would come back any differently.  It is just what they happen to have at the moment and evidentially there is not a huge demand for Bahamian currency here in the midwest.  Hmmmm.

So here I sit, 2 weeks later, 2 visits later, and no currency.  I am glad I prepared ahead of time.  Yesterday’s visit told me that the money was most likely still in the vault and that it was on the schedule to be called about  that day.  No call came to me.  Hmmmm.

I am no stranger to ordering foreign currency. You can do it online through Bank of America and pick it up at your local branch.  Unfortunately there is no local branch within 50 miles here.  I think it might have been worth the drive.   We will see.

****************BREAKING NEWS******************************

I just received a call from Huntington.  She is trying to get through to the cash vault to locate my money.   This is 2 days after my last personal visit to the bank.  I need the money tomorrow.  She said she is “pretty sure” that she will have it.  At least she hopes she will.  It was sent back through the system on the 4th and it is now the 16th as I write this.   When I first ordered it it came back the very next day.   Go figure.  Will keep you posted as I am sure you are all dying to know how this turns out and if any of you need to accompany me to carry my satchel of money.