Chapter 224: This Isn't a Savings Bank

"Wait a minute, sir, you can't blame the bank for the loan being cut off! You just said the overall environment is bad, and the bank might be struggling too."

"Nonsense! They're living better than anyone else in Bath, enjoying steak and red wine every day!"

Perhaps thinking about Baines's tragic end, or perhaps being provoked by the female reporter's defense of Bath Bank, the chubby man's face suddenly flushed, and his emotions became extremely agitated.

Carter could clearly see the camera backing away, then heard the chubby man continue:

"Bath Bank is not short of money to help us at all, they're just driven by their desire for self-expansion and profit. I'll say it again, you're not a local, there are many things you don't understand!"

"That old guy has been eyeing the acquisition of Pearson City Forest Bank since last year, which is no secret to us. They've been recouping their funds since last year!"

"Normal business practices, I won't say anything, but now that the environment is deteriorating, they're still sticking to their old ways. They see themselves as a commercial bank, not a savings bank!"

"Because of trust, we entrust our money to Bath Bank for management. But when we needed money to save our lives the most, they were stingy! Even if they do give it, they set up all sorts of obstacles, still safeguarding their own interests."

"Is this still a savings bank? Is this still a member of our Federal Savings System? Isn't the meaning of the Federal Savings to maintain domestic economic stability, ensuring that our citizens have enough to eat and a stable life?"

"This..."

The female reporter looked at the excited chubby man, momentarily at a loss for words.

The Federal Savings System, apart from the Federal Reserve, the other Federal Reserve Banks are non-profit organizations on the face of it. Strictly speaking, each savings bank that constitutes a complete Federal Savings System, if you really get down to it, they should also be considered non-profit organizations. More accurately, they have a nature that lies between profit and non-profit. That is, they can make money in normal years, but once the situation changes, they should immediately transform into non-profit organizations focusing on maintaining monetary and economic stability.

For a non-profit organization, such a money-oriented approach is indeed not commendable. Therefore, it's understandable that it has aroused the anger of local depositors.

"Phew..."

Taking a deep breath and calming his emotions, the chubby man continued speaking to the camera:

"You just asked why we wanted this loan? Because we want to escape from this dead city, we want to go to Pearson, we want to go to Douglas!"

"Both are savings banks, but over there, the long-term mortgage rates are still 12% to this day, while here at Bath Bank? 16.8%! And this is for a ten-year loan!"

"We were thinking that after getting this loan here, we would get $40,000, go to Pearson, and either rebuild or buy a house, even if it's smaller or older. Then mortgage that property to Forest Bank, work for a while, save some money, and then use that money to repay our debt in Agil and the prepayment penalty. When the economy recovers, sell our house in Agil, and settle in Pearson for good. Use the proceeds from selling the house to repay the loan to Forest Bank."

"During this process, we would actually have to pay a lot of costs. Such as the interest during the period of working and saving, the prepayment penalty, the interest on the Forest Bank, and the taxes required in the housing transaction."

"Our lives are already very difficult, but we've never complained. These costs would be at least ten to twenty thousand dollars, but we have no objections, as long as there is work, as long as we can get by. But even though we are already so poor, there are still people unwilling to let us go! There are still people who want to suck our blood again!!"

"If the early repayment is completely prohibited, we will have to pay an additional over sixty thousand dollars in interest on top of these costs. So I sympathize with Baines, but I don't have an ounce of sympathy for those security guards who died in front of the gun and the staff of Bath Bank."

"Well, I admit, they have their own difficulties. But, this is the fate they deserve for assisting tyranny."

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"Jenny, I'm going out for a while!"

Seeing this on TV, Carter had roughly outlined the outline of the shooting case. Although it felt sudden and even somewhat speechless, such things, upon careful consideration, were still possible.

Carter once witnessed a murder at a noodle shop next to the train station over an argument about the price of a bowl of noodles.

For Carter, who witnessed the entire incident while eating at the noodle shop next door, he understood that behind many impulsive crimes, the reasons weren't that complicated. A trivial matter, combined with a little stimulation, could trigger a tragedy.

However, unlike the previous experience, this time Bath Bank suddenly had such an incident. Carter always felt that he should make some preparations for this. After all, as the chubby man said, their goal was to go to Pearson or Douglas.

Originally, in this relatively sensitive period, outsiders were not welcome by locals. After all, no one was willing to share their cake with others, especially when the cake wasn't big enough. This wasn't discrimination against rural people by city dwellers, but a genuine conflict of interests, which would make this opposition more serious than ordinary discrimination.

Maybe the inefficient city council would speed up the review of the proposal to restrict citizenship because of this news?

"Take the gun with you! Be safe."

"It's okay, it's not some gangster, our area is still very stable. Besides, I'm not going to the bank, I'm going to Goodman's house to discuss something with him!"

Seeing Carter hurriedly leaving, Jenny silently put away the gun on the coffee table.

"Mom, is what Carter said true? Is it still safe here?"

It wasn't until the sound of Carter starting the car outside that Melissa came back to her senses, asking with some concern.

"Don't worry, haven't you heard what your brother said? Douglas is still very safe, and in another ten days, your brother Lewin, and Bradley's police training will be over, and they will stay at home first. By then, we will have two police officers at home, so there's no need to be afraid!"

While Jenny was comforting Melissa, Carter had arrived outside the Goodman's house. Hearing the sound of the car, Goodman seemed to know that Carter was coming, and even before Carter parked the car, he opened the gate and stood at the door waiting.

"You saw the news, right? The shooting at Bath Bank."

"Yes, that's why I'm here."

"Come in quickly! Let's talk inside."

After entering Goodman's house and greeting his family, the two came to the backyard.

"What are you worried about now?"

"I'm worried that the proposal to restrict citizenship will accelerate through!"