I'm Old, Not an Idiot: A Retiree Against the Banks (A)

The banking sector has undergone a profound transformation in recent years. Mergers have rendered many branches superfluous, while online banking means most users can manage their accounts while rarely entering a physical bank. The sector is shrinking, and all banks are closing branches, a process that has been further accelerated by two years of pandemic. Carlos San Juan is a 73-year-old retiree who found using banking apps difficult. When one day he arrived outside the reduced hours for cash desk service and was unable to withdraw money from his own account, he decided to protest. I began with his own network of friends and family, then jumped to social media. The mobilization and activism platform Change.org picked up his protest, and support multiplied exponentially on social networks under the slogan ?I?m old, not stupid.? Media brought the issue to the attention of the economy minister and other members of the government, who lent their support and demanded that banks change their strategy. All banks began to promote initiatives in support of older customers.