Every time I go to the credit union and deposit $3-400 they look at me like I'm some sort of criminal.  I know it's all part of Homeland Security's attempts to get an early warning on terrorists, but when did depositing or withdrawing a few hundred dollars cash become cause for showing ID and giving two signatures.

Does anybody know what is being reported and to whom?  Also, what level of transaction is getting reported?  I get the impression that it's almost any cash transaction is now being traced.

This question is also relevant to many of the ladies on this site that get most of their income in cash.

...IRS for any cash transaction over $10,000.  If you try to get around it by depositing a few thousand in different branches, the bank may file a Suspicious Activity Report.

I've never had any problem with getting several thousand cash back when making a deposit of checks.  Of course, the bank has to know you because of the identity theft problem.

With all the online banking and direct deposit of checks, maybe your credit union isn't used to cash anymore.  There's a current TV commercial for Chase where a group of people reimburse the person who paid the restaurant bill by putting the money in her checking account with their smart phones, instead of each giving her the cash.

I just tell them I go to flea markets and such and they are all fine with that cover story.

Well maybe not "exactly" I always tell them I am taking the money out for drinking, gambling and women. Or when I take out more than a couple of grand, I simply tell them I am headed out of the country and it's my play money.  

Actually I don't even need to tell them any more, If I show up needing five grand in cash on a Thursday or Friday, they automatically ask me where I am headed for the weekend. I guess my reputation precedes me. lol

Point is, there is nothing terribly suspicious about cash unless you make it that way. My banker doesn't really care what I do with the money, there are just being friendly because I am a good customer. It would probably take a fifty thousand dollar cash withdrawl to raise any eyebrows at my bank, and a simple "I need it" would suffice if I didn't want to explain myself.

I really don't understand the angst at hotels, airports, banks etc where it comes to enjoying the hobby. Just remember you are the customer and your business is exactly that, YOUR BUSINESS, and none of theirs. People will treat you the way you train them to treat you. Train them to treat you with deference and respect and that's exactly how they will treat you. Act as if you are "up to something" and that is how they will treat you as well.

even though the IRS regulations is for $10,000.  Fucking brown noses!  I assume that probably means anything even approaching $8k also makes it on their list.

But my other question relates to them telling me they were specifically logging all cash transactions and your name.  And not just the way you'd log it in as "cash received" but as a separate category.  In fact, when I'm depositing or withdrawing cash, it's handled as two separate transactions with two separate signatures required.  That's what had me worried, because even a $300 cash deposit is getting looked at and it has my name attached to it.

Of course, for play money, the ATM is the way to go.  But if I want to deposit some cash to pay my bills (I'm self-employed), every asshole in Washington apparently has to know about it.

I always use a ATM. You never have to deal with silly looks of judgement on why you are taking out the cash. You should get a business license, IE for a cash cow business. That way you make the deposits there won't be such an issue.

They carded me and wanted a reason for getting the money order plus a signature
They told me it was for anti money laundering  I think that's a little overboard .

and get them from a teller. For me, the only problem is banking hours, not having to talk to a person. The only conversation has been small talk. I've never been asked what I need the money for. I mean, it is MY money, and the bank is just there to kindly provide it in paper form when I want it. Unless they have some formal need to know why, I would consider it highly inappropriate for a teller to ask or even raise an eyebrow over it.

I think they're good for amounts up to $500 and the fee is minimal compared to other places.

I never used a money order until Homeland Security started this cash tracking program.  Now, I occasionally pay credit card bills with them, even though I'm set up for electronic payments on all my bills and CC's.  I just don't like people scrutinizing my bank accounts and cash transactions for no good reason.

my mechanics, day labor...  cash does not bounce!!  I routinely with draw pocket cash from every  deposit.  Unused pocket cash becomes my play money.   Occasionally, I'll chit-chat with a teller...  I've taken sums of cash to make large purchases.  I've bought used equipment at auction, cars & trucks... heavy equipment...  3 computers last year...  

Cash income can be used to pay bills directly or money orders purchased at convenience stores.  In my former legit business a customer used to pay his account with MOs from all over...  I noted he had a cash business.  
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Just about every time I deposit a check from a vendor I routinely ask for $500 to $1000 cash back and I've never had anyone at my bank stare at me or question me.  Or maybe I just don't give a flying fuck if they do!

A lot of escorts and dancers that I know use money orders to pay some of their bills rather than depositing all of their cash into a checking or savings account.

At the CVS and at a grocery store in Vegas I think it was smiths.

I just don't think I need a reason to be carded or should have to sign anything to get one.
its invasive.

Honestly I've been with my ATF several times when she has purchased money orders and never seen her get asked for ID.

I agree, I use the atm for all my deposits. These days you don't need to go into a bank for anything really. The atm does it all.

Get a business license for being a consultant. There's a million things you can be a consultant for, just make sure its something you have some knowledge about. Cheap easy cover story.