Chapter 14

Cindy was right about us needing a bank. My idea of, me becoming a middleman for my people making deposits to and withdrawals from their Multiverse banks was a stopgap measure that would suffice, but only for a short time. The more I thought about things, it was very evident that the Banking Guild would not establish a bank on Earth in the near future, and we needed one now.

By the time I got to my office portable, I had formed a rough plan to handle this issue. My first step would be to establish an interim system for my people to do their Multiverse banking, to include finding someone to handle the accounting of my interim system. Then, I would create a bank here at the ranch. That meant I would have to build a new building and locate someone to run the bank. The very first thing I needed to do was to consult with a few of my key advisors as to the best way to proceed.

As Cindy had pointed out, I was delinquent in finding an accounting agency to handle my financial affairs. Locating an agency should not be a major effort. Once I have an agency, Cindy can hand over the responsibility of tracking my expenses and they could also set up the system for tracking my peoples’ banking transactions. I can hand off the transaction data to Kendrick, and he can transfer the funds between my bank account and my peoples’ Multiverse bank accounts.

Before going into my office, I stopped at Cindy’s office.

“Cindy, I’ve decided to create a bank here on the ranch now. I can deal with the Banking Guild if they ever get around to deciding to install a bank on Earth. I need some advice on the best way to proceed. Please call Matt, Mary, and Abby. Ask them to join me in my meeting room at eleven for a short meeting. If you can think of anyone else whose opinion would be beneficial call them also. I’ll need you in the meeting, also.”

“I always attend your meetings to take notes, Doug.”

“Yes, you do, but I want you there as an active participant more than just a note taker. You were in the meetings with me when I met with Kendrick and Kevin, so your point of view will be essential.”

Everyone showed up early, so I started the meeting with, “I decided to open my own chain of banks here on Earth. Cindy pointed out that the Multiverse members of my staff have bank accounts in the Multiverse that they need to access, and currently they can’t do that. I will also need branch banks in other countries before the Banking Guild gets around to setting up a bank here on Earth. I will begin with a single bank here at the ranch.

“Abby, has Charlie gotten back to you regarding my question of how to go about creating a bank in the US?”

“No, but I’ll call him after this meeting and let you know what he says.”

“Matt, what are your thoughts on me starting a bank?”

“As you’ve said before, you will need a bank here to support trade with the Multiverse. So, I don’t see a problem with that other than the timing. You don’t have enough trading business to support a bank.”

“I know and I hadn’t planned on opening one now until Cindy told me about the banking problems my people were having.

“Initially, I won’t have enough business to justify the expense, but we need a bank now. What I set up will be a very small bank. When I begin trade in other countries, I can expand it, and also set up small banks in those countries.”

Mary said, “I agree that a bank would be beneficial. However, you don’t have to limit your business to just the ranch. With the proper inducement, I think many of the people in the local area will open accounts in your bank. If you include on-line banking, people from other parts of the US, and possibly other countries, will open accounts.”

Matt said, “I hadn’t considered that, Mary. What type of inducements were you thinking about?”

“Think about our current personal checking and savings accounts, Matt. Each month, we draw less than one percent interest on our average daily checking account balance, and the interest rate on our savings account is not that much more. The bank takes all of its depositor’s money and reinvests it, and they receive a much higher interest rate than they pay us.

“If Doug’s bank invested the depositors’ funds, he could easily get a four percent return on the investment, or more. If he made bank loans to other people and businesses, he could get a sixteen percent, or higher, return; a lower interest rate would give him even more loan business. If he advertised a three and a half percent return on checking accounts and a four percent return on savings accounts, I bet his bank would be swamped by people applying for accounts in his bank. I know I’d switch our accounts to his bank for that reason alone.

“He could also advertise very low interest loans for his customers. All of the current banks advertise loan interest on a home at the prime rate plus an amount that varies according to how greedy a bank is. What would happen if Doug’s bank offered home loans at a half a percent below the prime rate?”

“Yes those types of inducements would undoubtedly get him a lot of customers. It would also cause him a lot of problems with the banking community.”

I asked, “What type of problems, Matt?”

“I’m not sure of all the problems, but you can bet that they would complain to the Reserve Bank about your bank practicing unfair business practices.”

“Matt, would the Reserve Bank have a problem with my bank paying higher rates on account balances than the banks that complain or on my bank charging less interest on loans than those banks?”

“I don’t know, Doug. I am not familiar with the Banking regulations that control interest rates. I suspect the interest rates the banks pay and charge their customers are based on what they think will get them more business. So they set their interest rates to be slightly better than what other banks pay and charge.

“If you come along and set interest rates they consider ridiculous, then they will complain. However, if I’m right about what controls the interest rates is correct, then the Federal Reserve Bank wouldn’t cause you a problem.”

I asked, “Abby, do you agree with Matt and Mary?”

“I definitely agree with what Mary said. Like Matt said, I don’t know enough about banking regulations to say if he is right or wrong. You will need a lawyer familiar with banking regulations in order to file your applications, so ask them.”

“Okay. The way I see it is, I have the funds to start the bank, so my next step is to find a lawyer who will assist me with filing the application to start a new bank. While the application is being processed, I can find the people to run the bank and discuss things like interest rates with them. Anything else?”

“Mary said, “You will need a place to do the banking. Have you thought about where it should be located?”

“I was thinking of a new building, but haven’t decided on where to build it.”
Cindy said, “Doug, you and Sandy talked with William about designing your Trade Center. Instead of a new building, add it to the Trade Center. If necessary, you can build another building later.”

“That is a good idea and it will solve a few related problems like security. The only problem is the Trade Center won’t be completed for three or four years.”

“That shouldn’t be a problem, Doug. You can use a portable until the Trade Center is complete.”

“Let’s talk about it later. Anything else?”

Cindy said, “A new bank will take time. What about our discussion regarding you being an interim bank?”

“Yes, I plan to do that, but I didn’t mention it. What Cindy means is, I will personally act as a bank for anyone that wants to withdraw money from one of their Multiverse bank accounts or make a deposit to an account.”

Sereine asked, “How will that work, Doug?”

“To make a deposit to your Multiverse account, give the Earth currency to Cindy, or to whomever I designate as my banker. To make a withdrawal from your account, request the Earth currency from my banker. We can do a General Funds Data Chip transaction to transfer the equivalent amount of Multiverse funds between our Multiverse accounts. We can start out by using my estimated exchange rate. We can adjust things later if my people are short changed.

“Cindy, I believe everyone has a General Funds Data Chip, but we don’t have a chip reader. Add buying a chip reader to the things I need to do during the next trip to the Multiverse.

“Anything else?”

Cindy said, “I looked at the list of facilities you and Sandy will have in the Trade Center and I notice one thing that I think you will want to add. You won’t want the traders to be coming to the Embassy to use our Twixt terminal, so start a Twixt business in the Trade Center or in the Hotel.”

“You’re right about me not wanting them to use our Twixt terminal, and I think the Trade Center would be the best location for the business. I’ll talk with Sandy about your suggestion.”

Matt said, “Most of your banking business will be with Earth customers. You may not want them in the Trade Center, so it may be best to locate the bank in the Hotel.”

“Okay, I’ll think about it.”

There were no further comments, so I ended the meeting. Cindy and I went home for lunch.

Abby was waiting for me when I got back from lunch.

“Doug, Charlie let Aaron know about you starting a bank. So far, the President hasn’t commented on your intent.

“Charlie also asked the chairman of the Reserve Bank about what is involved in creating a new bank. He was told that most new banks need about twelve to twenty million dollars in capital to get started. They have to apply to the regulatory agency, and once the regulatory approval process is complete, your bank can go into business.”

“Sandy and I have the bullion we brought back from our last trip to the Multiverse. We intended to use that to fund our new LLC and the creation of its subsidiaries. I’ll talk with Sandy about using some of the bullion to finance the bank, and I can replace what I use on our next trip to the Multiverse.

“If I recall correctly, you said the Federal Reserve Bank is the regulatory agency that I have to submit the application to. Is that right?”

“That’s my understanding, Doug. You need to be aware that the regulatory process is very complex and will take a long time to complete.”

“I wasn’t aware of that, but I didn’t think it would be quick or simple.”

“Are there lawyers who specialize in banking laws?”

“I suspect there are, Doug, but I don’t know of any. Your best way to find someone is to check with the Colorado Bar Association. They can suggest someone or tell you where to find someone who specializes in that area of the law.”

“Thanks, Abby. Anything else?”

“No, I’ll let you get back to what you’re doing?”

When Abby left, I called Sandy. She and Carla were at Carla’s home with her mom and grandmother doing the final planning for the wedding. I told her about Cindy’s suggestion of including my bank in the hotel and a Twixt Center in the Trade Center. She agreed with locating the bank in the Hotel and the Twixt Center in the Trade Center. She also agreed to my using our bullion for the bank if I had to prove I had the funds before I submitted the application to start the bank. If I didn’t need the funds up front, I would bring back more bullion when we went to the Multiverse for the weddings on Halpern and Fangler.

I mentioned that it’s a shame we don’t have the Hotel built so Sandy and Carla could hold their reception there. We agree that we should add several banquet and meeting rooms to the Hotel that can be rented out for wedding parties and other events. I said I would contact William and tell him we wanted to add the rooms to the Hotel.

After I left Timson, Maribel had twixted a few comments on the document’s content and several suggestions for additional content to Kendrick. He gave them to me just before we left Slave World. So when we got home, the rest of my day was spent updating the draft of the document I would give to the Trade Guilds to explain that Earth was a dangerous place for traders, and the policies I intended to put in place to protect them from the dangers.

Sandy was in the office the next day, so I stopped at her office to talk with her. I could tell she was nervous.

“Morning, Sandy. You seem a little out of sorts today. Are you okay?”

“Yes. Carla’s mother told Carla and me that brides are frequently anxious before they get married, and we should relax and enjoy the pre-wedding excitement. I don’t think I’m very relaxed.”

I’d experienced the nervous bride syndrome when my sister got married, and when my wives and I married. Sandy’s wedding was in two weeks. Two weeks before the wedding was about when my sister and wives started getting tense. Sandy seemed worse now than they did two weeks before their weddings.

“If you recall, my wives were nervous like you are before they married me. Talk with Fitz, he can help you relax.”

“If you mean sex, that is what men always think will help; it won’t.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that. Sex seemed to help my wives to relax; at least they always seemed calmer at the start of the next day.

“I did have something else to talk about with you. It has been a while since I asked you to work on the technology level assessment of Earth. Have you made any progress?”

“Some, but not as much as I would like. My other tasks don’t leave much time for me to work on it, and when I do, I find it difficult to define the degree of sophistication the different technologies have relative to comparable Multiverse technologies.”

“Why is that?”

“I think it is mainly because I’m not an engineer. If I were to compare a Multiverse computer to an Earth computer, I can tell you what I as a user see as the differences. But, I can’t tell you what is causing the differences. I know it has something to do with computer architecture and software, but I don’t know anything about those subjects.”

“I see. This is going to be a problem for us. We don’t have the technical background to assess Earth’s technology, and without that background we can’t determine a rating relative to the Multiverse’s level of technology.”

“Yes, that is a good way to define the problem I’ve had. I thought about discussing this with an Earth engineer, but he doesn’t know anything about Multiverse technology. The same would be true of a Multiverse engineer. I also thought about having a Multiverse engineer return with us to help in the evaluation, but I don’t want to put him in a position where he might be exposed and become a sugar addict.”

“It occurs to me that we have two solutions, Sandy. Take samples of Earth technology to the Multiverse so the samples can be evaluated by Multiverse engineers, or find a Multiverse engineer who already has a problem with sugar addiction and is willing to emigrate to Earth. It may be best to do both. Betty and Carol mentioned they don’t have enough to do, so I’ll have them buy a selection of things that a Multiverse engineer can evaluate, and I’ll have Kendrick find an engineer who is willing to join us on Earth. I’m certain we can use them once the study is complete.”

When I went home for lunch, I explained the problem Sandy was having, and asked Betty and Carol if they would help by buying a selection of items that we could take back to the Multiverse. They could store the items in one of the empty freight shelters until we left.

My request got me in trouble with Rita. She was upset that I was cutting her out of going shopping with Betty and Carol. I quickly explained that I thought she would be too busy to go shopping with them. She just gave me that Stupid Man look and told me she was never too busy to go shopping.

Time passed quickly until it was time for the wedding practice and dinner. Up until then, the only thing of any significance that occurred was, Layla Cutler made a formal complaint to the Department of Justice that the Multiverse practiced slavery. She said anyone associated with the Multiverse should be extradited from the US, and if possible, kicked off of Earth. Eric Mannes, the Patriarch, was back in the news. He announced a nationwide invitation to a conference to discuss how to deal with the Multiverse heathens and bigamists who came to Earth.

I asked Abby if Layla Cutler’s complaint would cause us problems. She called Charlie and he told her that when Layla’s complaint had been submitted to the Justice Department, they informed her it was not credible without evidence to support the complaint. They made it clear that her opinion of how whites treat blacks was not evidence.

Matt and Bill told me we needed to monitor what Eric was doing, but at this point there was nothing we could do. Eric’s meeting was scheduled for after we left for the Multiverse, so Matt and Bill would respond if and as necessary.

During lunch, my wives reminded me the wedding practice was that afternoon at four, and we had to leave by three. Carla lived in Greeley with her parents, and that is where her church was located. They wanted to know if I had made the arrangements with Bill for a security escort. I told them I had and Bill had made all the arrangements for us to leave at three. Fitz and his security detail would use one of our SUVs to drive Sandy to the church, and my wives and I would go in my limousine.

When I returned to the office, Sandy was waiting for me. She wanted to make sure I knew the practice was at Carla’s church at four and that I had the address. I assured her that I had given Bill the address and we would be traveling as a convoy that would leave at three o’clock. Beginning at two o’clock and at ten minute intervals, Cindy reminded me of how much time remained before we had to leave.

We arrived at St. Peter Roman Catholic Church ten minutes early. The priest met us at the church and he walked us through the ceremony one step at a time. We then went through a practice session where we actually walked down the aisle and the priest went through what would happen during the wedding vows. Carla’s dad and my parts were easy. Getting everyone to their proper positions was a bit more difficult.

Our rehearsal dinner was in a banquet room at a local steak restaurant not far from the church. The evening was pleasant with good food and conversation. My only problem was I couldn’t talk with some of Carla’s relatives who only spoke broken English, which was better than I was doing for I spoke no Spanish, and at the time I was only moderately proficient at English. Our rehearsal dinner ended early and we left for the ranch. The wedding would start at three tomorrow afternoon. Sandy didn’t go home with us for Carla’s family told her it was tradition that the groom not see the bride until she was coming down the church aisle. Sandy and two of her female security detail members were staying at Carla’s home for the night. Fitz and the rest of her security detail returned with us.

The next day, Fitz, Andy, and their groomsmen left the ranch at twelve thirty so they could get to the church in time to change into their tuxedos. They were uneasy for Carla wouldn’t let them carry their stunners and energy pistols while in the church; they had to leave them outside in their cars. Several of Bill’s people would be fully armed and would set up a security perimeter around the church.

The church was full and the wedding went smoothly with only one minor hitch. When it came time for Carla to put the ring on Andy’s finger, she kept trying to put it on the ring finger of Andy’s right hand and he kept pulling his hand away and telling her it was the wrong hand. It took a few moments for Carla to get the message, but all worked out fine. The two brides and grooms led their procession out of the church and we all followed. The brides and grooms were surrounded by well-wishers, and the groomsmen went to their SUVs to rearm themselves.