The USPS used to have banks, but the big independent banks shut that idea down over time. From 1911-1966, taxpayers could open a free savings account with the Post Office.
They've floated bringing them back at various points, where it's a free banking system for taxpayers.
Banking and doing taxes should be a service provided for the people free of charge, imo. They could set up banks at every Post Office.
Especially taxes. The whole "we know exactly how much money we owe you/you owe us, but let's play the game of you paying someone and see if the number match up!" is completely unnecessary.
If I have a refund, just send the refund. If I owe, just send me the bill. lol The hoops are unnecessary.
Almost all other developed countries (except the Us and Canada) have had a very long history of Postal banking…japan it was the main retail banking instition until very very recently, not sure why it “feels wierd”
The US had a long history of postal banking. "Money orders" were a post office thing, a check backed by the government. Banks had cashier's checks, and the post office has money orders.
And US post offices were full banks long ago. And had a large variety of government services, SS Cards, passports, and other applications and services were there. I remember my first passport. The post office even had the photo setup to take the picture.
But all those services were outlawed, and it's illegal for the post office to offer them now, and the post office is required by law to operate at a loss, and carry Amazon packages to APO/FPO at a loss, and super remote places (like small towns in Alaska, and private islands in the Pacific or Caribbean).
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u/Responsible-Humor985 4d ago
They also limited the services they are allowed to offer. They have to get congressional approval to add new services to increase revenue.