update: went to pay $1200 today, the cashier said they require name, social, occupation, and ID now for any cash payments for credit card payments at the teller. she had me fill out a little slip with this information, which she handed back to me after entering it into the computer. she said they started this 2 weeks ago and it is in effect at all branches.

however, she said cash payments at the ATM (which i didnt know you could do) as well as check payments at the teller are not subject to this type of verification.