I saw a great sign in a local business today, one I hope to see replicated around the country. I didn't write it down, but this is close to verbatim:
We support firefighters, police, nurses, teachers.
We support the 99%.
We do not accept checks from Bank of America.
We do not accept checks from Wells Fargo.
This is a locally-owned small restaurant. It is hugely popular. It is in a small town in a rural state that does not have any current issues with Republicans attacking public employees. (Well, it has been a "right to work" state for decades, so what's left to attack?)
I have not heard of an occupy movement anywhere within hundreds of miles. There is not a whole lot going on around here.
I do not personally know the woman who owns this restaurant, but she is fairly popular. I'm sure she will lose some business because of her brave stand, but I also know she will gain some business (definitely from me). Not everyone in this economy can take a chance like this, and I understand that.
In rural areas like this, where everybody pretty much knows everybody, at least by reputation, a lot of people still pay by check. There will no doubt be some people who are surprised to find their checks are no good simply because of where they bank (I think of it as which side they support).
I say good for her. Accepting a check from the two huge banks in town does not cost her anything, and does not directly provide them any additional revenue. Not accepting these checks does not do the reverse. But it makes a stand. Perhaps there will be a person or two who was thinking about moving their money, and this helps push them along. We can only hope.