It is funny how some banks find it so easy to take your money when opening a new account but frustrate you when you want to close that same account.
Months ago, I signed up for internet banking with Stanbic bank and was told it would take 24 hours to activate but guess what, it took almost three days. Aden? I relocated from Ghana so was counting on doing some transactions online but my password failed to work hence I was left powerless.
A few days ago, I got back into the country and needed some quick cash at the airport but to my dismay my bank card refused to work. You know how embarrassing that is when you have a queue right behind you.
I headed straight to the Airport branch of Stanbic to withdraw the money and then close my savings account as I had relocated and had no need for it. I was able to do the former but was told the process of closing an account takes a while so I should come back the following day at noon to retrieve the remaining money in my account.
Being the diligent person that I am, I arrived punctually at Stanbic, waited fifteen minutes for a staff member who pretended to be so busy processing my request( which I felt should have been done the day before), only to be told I couldn’t close my account at that branch as I opened it at another branch. Can you imagine? Are they mad?
Why wasn’t I told this the day before? And why do some banking staff feel they are doing you a favour by serving you? ‘Massa’, if the job is frustrating you, quit. There are millions of people waiting to occupy your position in a microsecond.
My fellow readers, if any of you are bankers, kindly explain to me the meaning of networking in your domain. Why can’t I close my account at any branch just as I can deposit, withdraw and do other transactions? School me please.
I had no choice but to drive to the other branch which was across town as I was traveling out the following day. After conveying my frustrations to one competent looking staff member, he assured me I would be able to retrieve my money but it would take a day or two for my account to be closed so a sum of 50 Ghana cedis would have to be left in the account. When asked what would happen to the money once the account closes, he said it could be transferred to any other bank account of mine. After filling some forms, he assured me he will be right back and vanished for over an hour.
As you can guess, I am fuming by now as an hour is over-stretching it. I summoned a security man and another staff member to call the gentleman that catered to me. Predicting my fury, the coward sent a female colleague to deal with me minutes later. She tried to calm me down with some long explanation I am not wiling to listen to till she mentioned a 15 Ghana cedi transaction fee for transferring the 50 Ghana cedis to another account.
“Can customers also charge you a fee for keeping them waiting?”, I ask and she laughed. At this point I was boiling and I felt I was about to go ghetto crazy in that banking hall but thank God for Jesus humph. I told them to keep the 50 Ghana cedis but this is not before letting them know what I think about their bank and their services.
At this point a senior colleague walks over and tries to salvage the situation and has the impudence to ask me why I wanted to close my account. I vented for while, said thank you and walked out with my head held high and my best ‘swaggalicious’ walk because at this point everyone including customers are focused on me.
Getting into my car, I couldn’t help but think to myself that I would rather keep the rest of my money under my pillow than invest in Stanbic bank. And to think I wanted to open an account with them in my new country of abode. God forbid.
At this particular juncture, I leave you with one more question. Why should it take hours or even days to close an account that took minutes to open?
If you own a restaurant, café, hotel, bar, night club, tourist destination, customer service based business or any lifestyle ‘joint’ in any part of the world, why don’t you invite one of our lifestyle writers to enjoy your food, stay at your hotel or explore your services so we can honestly review your business—and give you the needed worldwide publicity.
Even if we are not invited and we ever happen to be your customer, we will not let go our observations so to let others know what we honestly think.
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Thank you now i know not to open an account with Stanbic….. i will spread the message. Its about time these businesses understand the meaning of professionalism.
Thank you now i know not to open an account with Stanbic….. i will spread the message. Its about time these businesses understand the meaning of professionalism.
I have an account with Stanbic as well and would make sure i clear out all my money till its 0 when i visit Ghana because i wouldnt want to go thru this hell in the future.
I have an account with Stanbic as well and would make sure i clear out all my money till its 0 when i visit Ghana because i wouldnt want to go thru this hell in the future.
Ma guy that how some of these banks are ooo, together with thier parent bank standard chartered. i could recall abt two yrs ago when ma mum just wanted to retrieve her abandoned GHC200 in her account for abt 6 months from barclays bank and massa the process alone, we’ve not been there again till today. they all thieves in suits….
Ma guy that how some of these banks are ooo, together with thier parent bank standard chartered. i could recall abt two yrs ago when ma mum just wanted to retrieve her abandoned GHC200 in her account for abt 6 months from barclays bank and massa the process alone, we’ve not been there again till today. they all thieves in suits….
The problem is the Ghanaians working there. You are usually dealing with a low browed, JSS/SSS graduate or Sackey Addo typist graduate who is usually lazy and insolent. Put them in an air conditioned room with a shirt and a tie or a skirt and jacket and they think they are on a higher plane. Visit any of the tertiary institutions in Ghana and observe the guys and girls. They are hyper insolent and have a fake sense of self which stems from ignorance. Most of them pretend they’re are living the ‘abroad’ lifestyle but don’t have a clue that what they are imitating is the ghetto version of life abroad and not the mainstream life. They are so ignorant they are drowning in it. These are the people that end up working at the banks and ministries where they believe they need special incentives just to do their work. A cesspool of ignorant, rude and impetuous monkeys pretending they are humans. A bank like stanbic shouldn’t have people like that working for them but unfortunately they are stuck with the same pool of ignorant, corrupt and despicable pieces of shitty people to choose from. That’s why stanbic in south Africa is completely different from stanbic in west Africa. It’s the people. The same with the government of Ghana. It is stuck with the same shitty people to choose from.
HAHAHA massa why Sackey Addo now .why u get problem with them anaa?
my dear is the Ghanaian system .that is why me i dont like working at the ministries or government agency their the worse of them all cus wen you get there and you dont follow them r will kill u fast so either you join them in their corruption and lackadaisical altitude towards work or Obituary .
in general Ghanaians dont know customer services . And they act as if your doing them a favour be .went to some savings and loan company for western union i ask the teller the rate of Canadian dollar she told me she doesn’t know … eii i was shocked and i told her i dont blame you .
also we too what are we doing to save this situation its up to us to stand up not always commenting and not making a move.
we should also start teaching the kids at home and in school customer service and its better the GES add it to the school curriculum and its going to help us in the long run .Thanks
The problem is the Ghanaians working there. You are usually dealing with a low browed, JSS/SSS graduate or Sackey Addo typist graduate who is usually lazy and insolent. Put them in an air conditioned room with a shirt and a tie or a skirt and jacket and they think they are on a higher plane. Visit any of the tertiary institutions in Ghana and observe the guys and girls. They are hyper insolent and have a fake sense of self which stems from ignorance. Most of them pretend they’re are living the ‘abroad’ lifestyle but don’t have a clue that what they are imitating is the ghetto version of life abroad and not the mainstream life. They are so ignorant they are drowning in it. These are the people that end up working at the banks and ministries where they believe they need special incentives just to do their work. A cesspool of ignorant, rude and impetuous monkeys pretending they are humans. A bank like stanbic shouldn’t have people like that working for them but unfortunately they are stuck with the same pool of ignorant, corrupt and despicable pieces of shitty people to choose from. That’s why stanbic in south Africa is completely different from stanbic in west Africa. It’s the people. The same with the government of Ghana. It is stuck with the same shitty people to choose from.
HAHAHA massa why Sackey Addo now .why u get problem with them anaa?
my dear is the Ghanaian system .that is why me i dont like working at the ministries or government agency their the worse of them all cus wen you get there and you dont follow them r will kill u fast so either you join them in their corruption and lackadaisical altitude towards work or Obituary .
in general Ghanaians dont know customer services . And they act as if your doing them a favour be .went to some savings and loan company for western union i ask the teller the rate of Canadian dollar she told me she doesn’t know … eii i was shocked and i told her i dont blame you .
also we too what are we doing to save this situation its up to us to stand up not always commenting and not making a move.
we should also start teaching the kids at home and in school customer service and its better the GES add it to the school curriculum and its going to help us in the long run .Thanks
It’s the people. Ghanaians corrupt everything they tough at home. Service at Stanbic in south Africa is completely different from Stanbic West Africa. The same corrupt and ignorant Ghanaian at home puts on shirt and tie or a skirt and jacket and we think he/she will change from a lazy and ignorant to a hard working and progressive worker? Fat chance. Look at their attitude toward everything. Unless they are getting bribed they do every thing in slo -mo. That is the typical Ghanaian at home.
It’s the people. Ghanaians corrupt everything they tough at home. Service at Stanbic in south Africa is completely different from Stanbic West Africa. The same corrupt and ignorant Ghanaian at home puts on shirt and tie or a skirt and jacket and we think he/she will change from a lazy and ignorant to a hard working and progressive worker? Fat chance. Look at their attitude toward everything. Unless they are getting bribed they do every thing in slo -mo. That is the typical Ghanaian at home.