Commonwealth Bank, Westpac and St George called out over tellers’ cash questions before customer gets revenge
An Australian comedian fooled the big banks after being asked to explain why he needed the money he was withdrawing.
In Australia, banks are required to report cash transactions totaling $10,000 or more to a government agency.
This measure was designed to protect the integrity of the national banking system by preventing money laundering and terrorist financing.
However, many banks have gone a step further, now asking customers to specify the purpose of any cash withdrawal over $2,000.
Jon-Bernard Kairouz, known for his viral predictions of daily Covid cases in NSW in 2020, decided to play pranks on bank clerks at Commonwealth Bank, Westpac and St George.
Kairouz gave the unsuspecting tellers a series of bizarre explanations as to why he took $6,000.
‘If you withdraw money in Australia, the banks want to know why.
“Let’s go tell them the truth.”
The comedian told a cashier in St. George that he needed $6,000 to buy gifts for his girlfriend after she accused him of being unfaithful.
While visiting Westpac, Kairouz (pictured with a bank clerk) tells the bank clerk that he doesn’t understand why the bank needs to know what the money is for.
“My wife thinks I cheated on her last week. She sticks my head in. So I have to give her some money and a necklace,’ he says.
‘She doesn’t like flowers. She just likes designer handbags and s***.’
The cashier, seemingly pleased with his answer, asks him to sign a receipt.
While visiting Westpac, Kairouz tells the cashier that he doesn’t understand why the bank needs to know what the money is for.
“I have to ask,” the woman replies.
“Drugs, cola, devil’s lettuce, you would know,” he replies.
“Is that what you want me to say, Jon-Bernard?
” says the dubious counter.
“I don’t take it personally. I just connect people with each other’, the comedian explains.
“Whatever you do, it’s your business,” she tells him.
The TikTok comedian has retaliated against bank clerks across Sydney after being asked how he planned to spend the large sum of money he withdrew
The comedian told another employee that he needs the money for a bleaching kit.
“To bleach my ass,” he says to the man behind the screen.
“It’s a whitening kit. They said they could lighten it up to three shades.”
In what appears to be an ANZ affiliate, the comedian says the money is for steroids.
“Summer is coming, Stereosonic, I need to shred for summer,” he says.
“Understood,” replies the female counter clerk.
Kairouz first rose to prominence on social media during the Covid-19 lockdowns when he accurately “predicted” daily case numbers.
He became known as ‘the TikTok numbers man’ after repeatedly revealing the NSW Covid count hours before then Prime Minister Gladys Berejiklian in 2021.
His sensational five-day run ended in July when he got the numbers wrong.
Kairouz was found guilty in November of encouraging people to violate pandemic restrictions during the Covid lockdown but was spared a conviction.