If that's so how did NPR go talk to this guy in Kansas and get one? They don't have a lot of money, and they aren't a bank. I bet this guy in Kansas is getting a lot of phone calls like this one.
In NPR's case, I'd say: (a) it looks like they worked directly with the seller, not with a bank/broker/dealer, and (b) their foundation has $250MM of assets, so they're not exactly a small fry (http://www.npr.org/about/statements/fy2008/fy08nprfoundation... [pdf]).