WNY Non-Development Discussion

[IlEstAndré]

we all make mistakes
lol

[xzmattzx]

Do I need a passport to get into Canada now? I'd like to go into Toronto when I come up there in April.

How long does it take to apply and get a passport?

[Sabretooth]

I thought it wasn't taking effect until 2008? I don't know. I guess I should pay more attention, I do enjoy going over the border once or twice a year; be it for the beaches on Lake Ontario, dirt cheap Yankees games in Toronto, or if for nothing more than to pay homage to the greatest retail outlet on Earth - the almighty Bulk Barn.

It's a damn stupid regulation if you ask me. What's to keep a terrorist from forging a passport? Isn't that what the 9/11 hijackers did to get into Portland, Maine? Frankly, anything the Fed gov't says we need, I say we do the opposite. Only then does it have a chance to actually work as intended.

[elmwood]

Originally Posted by xzmattzx

Do I need a passport to get into Canada now? I'd like to go into Toronto when I come up there in April.

How long does it take to apply and get a passport?

If you're driving, no. Not until 2008.

From the time I applied, it took about two months before it arrived. The Feds have a good online passport application tracking system.

The US passport itself does look like it could be easily faked, although there's probably some hidden security features they aren't making public.

[homestar]

theoretically, although passports are not required, they can still ask for proof of citizenship which is basically either a passport or a birth certificate.

The Buffalo/Niagara crossing rarely ask for it though and are fine with a drivers license. But the detroit border for some reason is much more picky and will sometimes grill you if you don't have the right docs.

Long story short - you're fine for now.

[Sabretooth]

Depends on who you're with too. I've never been asked for more than a driver's license, but the last time I crossed we had out-of-town company, and one of them is Korean. The border patrol people tried to make her slip up and make sure she could speak English.

[thestip]

I go back and forth A LOT, I have family in So. Ontario, so what I have learned to do that the Customs Inspectors usually like is when I pull up to the booth, first make sure you stop at the stop sign right before the booth, I put the car in neutral and the handbrake on (I have a manual, if driving an auto put it in park), and I always have my identification in hand to hand to them directly. If I am in a car with back doors, I always roll down both the front and back windows if there are passengers in the back. Usually, if you do this, they are fairly relaxed, largely due to the fact that they see that you are taking crossing from one country to another seriously. That is their big thing, it really is a power trip. It is a serious thing that they are two different countries, although living along the border really doesn't make it feel like they are. So as long as you make it look like you take the fact you are crossing a border seriously, they usually won't harass you.

[xzmattzx]

I've been across the border many times, so I know what I'm doing despite not living near the border. I might get a few questions because my car has not crossed the border much, if at all, so I don't know if they have my license plate. I'll bring my birth certificate just in case it comes down to that.

[DallasTexan]

Well, it was just announced this morning that the last high paying executive jobs at HSBC/Buffalo will be leaving for New York City

[DallasTexan]

U.S. BANK REALIGNMENT

Dear Colleagues,

Following my appointment as CEO of the Bank in addition to my responsibilities as Head of CIBM, I have taken the opportunity to review the U.S. Bank operations and would like to further integrate our structure across lines to maximize our opportunity for growth and success in the U.S. market. To that end, the following realignments are effective immediately:

Chris Davies, Senior Executive Vice President – Head of Commercial Banking (CMB), will assume responsibility for Global Transaction Banking (GTB). Michael Gallagher, Executive Vice President – Head of GTB, Payments and Cash Management and Bank Notes will report to Chris.

Kevin ******, Group General Manager – Head of PFS, will assume responsibility for HSBC Investments (INV) and Stephen Baker, Executive Vice President INV, will report to Kevin.

David Dew, Senior Executive Vice President, will be named Chief Operating Officer (COO) and will assume responsibility for Operations in all businesses. In addition, David will be my officer in charge (OIC) in my absence. David Kotheimer, Senior Executive Vice President – Business Performance, Martyn Brush, Managing Director and COO – CIBM and INV, Mike Ebbs, Managing Director and CIO, and Philip Musacchio, Managing Director and COO – GPB will report to David. All of the above positions will now be headquarted out of New York City.

In addition, our Finance functions will be moved from its present location in Buffalo and integrated and managed from New York City. Gerard Mattia, will be named Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) – HUSI. John McKenna will work to effectively transition with Gerard while pursuing alternative roles within the Group. Further information with regard to the reporting relationships within Finance will be announced in due course.

After 18 years with the company, Robert Butcher, Senior Executive Vice President – Chief Risk Officer, has announced his intention to retire effective May 1. We thank Bob for his years of service and wish him a happy, healthy retirement. George Wendler, Senior Executive Vice President, will be named Chief Risk Officer for HUSI and will assume responsibility for Risk in addition to his current responsibility for the Credit function.

Although Risk and Finance now will be managed from New York City, our commitment to Buffalo, NY as a center of operations remains.

These executives will maintain their functional reporting lines as appropriate and all new appointments are pending board approval following which there will be more detailed functional announcements. A chart outlining my direct reports is attached. Please join me in congratulating these executives on their new roles.

We will establish a U.S. Bank Executive Committee (EXCO) replacing the bank’s Senior Management Committee (SMC). I will chair EXCO and the following individuals will be members:

Janet Burak
Chris Davies
David Dew
Jeanne Ebersole
Gerard Mattia
Kevin ******
Marlon Young
George Wendler

I appreciate that the last several months has been a time of change for the bank. As I said during the recent road show, the overall strategy and direction for the bank remains unchanged. Now is the time for us all to focus on execution and achieving our goals in 2007.

Yours sincerely,



Paul J. Lawrence
President and Chief Executive Officer – HUSI and HBUS
Head of CIBM, North America

[veryprotourism]

why is kevin *****'s name *****ed out?
is that you and you need to keep secret your plans to moved your desk to birmingham?

[bjfan82]

Originally Posted by Cyburbia

If you're driving, no. Not until 2008.

It's not going to be till 2009 or 2010 at the earliest...Hillary kept getting the bill killed in the 109th Congress. Now with the Dems in control of the 110th Congress and her potentially becoming President, its not likely that one will ever need a passport.

[DallasTexan]

I have no idea. It has his name in the e-mail but when I copy paste it, it puts the ***** in its place. Even when I go back and edit it nothing changes...

[xzmattzx]

That last name is Newman, right? I don't know why it's filtered.

[Sabretooth]

******!

I don't know how to read HSBC. They're the biggest bank based locally, but I don't get the impression that they act like it. M&T and Key seem to have far larger profiles, and Key isn't even based here. Heck, even BoA seems to have a more prominent presense.

[Sabretooth]

Weeeirrd.

New-man!

[steel]

Originally Posted by DallasTexan

U.S. BANK REALIGNMENT

Dear Colleagues,

Following my appointment as CEO of the Bank in addition to my responsibilities as Head of CIBM, I have taken the opportunity to review the U.S. Bank operations and would like to further integrate our structure across lines to maximize our opportunity for growth and success in the U.S. market. To that end, the following realignments are effective immediately:

Chris Davies, Senior Executive Vice President – Head of Commercial Banking (CMB), will assume responsibility for Global Transaction Banking (GTB). Michael Gallagher, Executive Vice President – Head of GTB, Payments and Cash Management and Bank Notes will report to Chris.

Kevin ******, Group General Manager – Head of PFS, will assume responsibility for HSBC Investments (INV) and Stephen Baker, Executive Vice President INV, will report to Kevin.

David Dew, Senior Executive Vice President, will be named Chief Operating Officer (COO) and will assume responsibility for Operations in all businesses. In addition, David will be my officer in charge (OIC) in my absence. David Kotheimer, Senior Executive Vice President – Business Performance, Martyn Brush, Managing Director and COO – CIBM and INV, Mike Ebbs, Managing Director and CIO, and Philip Musacchio, Managing Director and COO – GPB will report to David. All of the above positions will now be headquarted out of New York City.

In addition, our Finance functions will be moved from its present location in Buffalo and integrated and managed from New York City. Gerard Mattia, will be named Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) – HUSI. John McKenna will work to effectively transition with Gerard while pursuing alternative roles within the Group. Further information with regard to the reporting relationships within Finance will be announced in due course.

After 18 years with the company, Robert Butcher, Senior Executive Vice President – Chief Risk Officer, has announced his intention to retire effective May 1. We thank Bob for his years of service and wish him a happy, healthy retirement. George Wendler, Senior Executive Vice President, will be named Chief Risk Officer for HUSI and will assume responsibility for Risk in addition to his current responsibility for the Credit function.

Although Risk and Finance now will be managed from New York City, our commitment to Buffalo, NY as a center of operations remains.

These executives will maintain their functional reporting lines as appropriate and all new appointments are pending board approval following which there will be more detailed functional announcements. A chart outlining my direct reports is attached. Please join me in congratulating these executives on their new roles.

We will establish a U.S. Bank Executive Committee (EXCO) replacing the bank’s Senior Management Committee (SMC). I will chair EXCO and the following individuals will be members:

Janet Burak
Chris Davies
David Dew
Jeanne Ebersole
Gerard Mattia
Kevin ******
Marlon Young
George Wendler

I appreciate that the last several months has been a time of change for the bank. As I said during the recent road show, the overall strategy and direction for the bank remains unchanged. Now is the time for us all to focus on execution and achieving our goals in 2007.

Yours sincerely,



Paul J. Lawrence
President and Chief Executive Officer – HUSI and HBUS
Head of CIBM, North America

Does that leave you in charge?

Interesting that when the Bank was HQ in the Buff it did nothing but grow exponentially. Now nothing but down. Of course that trend also corresponds to the hiring of DT

[steel]

Originally Posted by Sabretooth

******!

I don't know how to read HSBC. They're the biggest bank based locally, but I don't get the impression that they act like it. M&T and Key seem to have far larger profiles, and Key isn't even based here. Heck, even BoA seems to have a more prominent presense.

Right down to the painted plywood sign on top of the building

[elmwood]

"Buffalo? Is that near the mighty American city of Amherst, comrade?"

[IlEstAndré]

is that Russian?