TikToker pranks Aussie bank tellers over cash questions

An Aussie comedian has left his followers in stitches after filming his cheeky response after being questioned by banks when trying to withdraw $6000 in cash.

An Aussie TikToker has filmed his cheeky response to a common bank question. Picture: Jon-Bernard Kairouz /TikTok

A TikTok comedian has taken on several Australian banks, filming their tellers asking what his reason is for withdrawing cash.

In Australia, banks are required to report any cash transactions of $10,000 or more to a federal government tracking agency called AUSTRAC.

The reason for this is to help uncover money laundering or other criminal activity and protect the integrity of Australia’s banking system.

In an effort of further precaution, the majority of banks have taken to asking any customers withdrawing $2000 or more for the reason they need the money.

The big four banks – Commonwealth Bank Australia (CBA), Westpac, National Australia Bank (NAB) and ANZ - all have a policy of calling ahead for large amounts of cash withdrawn at a branch.

Taking advantage of the requirement, TikToker Jon-Bernard Kairouz filmed himself at Westpac, St George and Commonwealth banks, giving tellers outlandish reasons as to why he was withdrawing $6000.

“When you withdraw cash in Australia, the banks want to know why. Let’s go tell them the truth,” he said in his video.

At a St George branch, Mr Kairouz told the teller he needed the money to buy his girlfriend gifts as she thought he was having an affair.

“My missus thinks I cheated on her last week. She’s doing my f***ing head in. So I need to give her some cash and a necklace,” he said.

The teller accepted his reason and had him sign a receipt.

His outlandish reasons for withdrawing cash had social media users in stitches. Picture: Jon-Bernard Kairouz /TikTok

His reasons ranged from buying drugs and steroids to buying gifts for his girlfriend. Picture: Jon-Bernard Kairouz /TikTok

Mr Kairouz then went to a Westpac branch to repeat the prank with a different reason for his withdrawal.

“Drugs, coke, the devil’s lettuce, you would know,” he said.

“That’s what you want me to put, Jon-Bernard?” the woman at the counter asked him.

When he further explained that he personally doesn’t deal it, she told him it was his business for what he does with it.

Other bizarre explanations he gave ranged from “bleaching his butt hole” to “needing the cash for steroids” for the upcoming summer.

A spokesperson for the Australian Banking Association (ABA) told news.com.au that an important part of a bank teller’s job was to protect customers by watching out for possible fraud.

“Bank staff are trained to monitor large cash transactions because in some cases they are indicative of money laundering or other illegal activities,” the spokesperson said.

“Banks may also ask additional questions to help prevent serious systemic issues such as scams, financial elder abuse, and family and domestic violence.”

Social media users found the whole thing hilarious, with many loving the bleaching excuse in particular.

“Those damn bleaching packages are so expensive these days,” one social media user wrote.

“‘It’s a bleaching package, they said it can make it up to 3 shades lighter’ is my personal fav,” another said.

Mr Kairouz was later arrested for attending anti-lockdown rally. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Other users came to the defence of the bank staff, saying they were just doing their job.

“The sad thing is, that the poor people at the bank are just employees who must ask,” one user wrote.

“If banks didn’t do this people would be blaming the banks when they lost their money as to why they didn’t do more. But sure, harassing the staff just doing their job for a TikTok vid,” another said.

Mr Kairouz rose to viral fame during Sydney’s Covid-19 lockdowns in 2012 after successfully predicting the Covid-19 case numbers before then-premier Gladys Berejiklian’s announcements.

However, he was found guilty to two counts of not complying with a Covid-19 notice or direction in November last year.

Mr Kairouz admitted he had breached public health orders by attending an anti-lockdown rally in Sydney’s CBD on July 24 2021.