ABSA vs. FNB

Pilgrim said:
Making this exact same move 1 month ago and still unable to get fking FNB internet banking to work: Frustrating :mad:

But yes, ABSA lost my business too... :D
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Had this problem recently with FNB. Apparently the system was changed and even the branch you register your account with doesn't have permission to activate your internet banking. Basically they referred me to validations department - you can get their number by calling FNB. Or they can put in a request at the branch. You need to go into the branch though to get things done as I experienced. Just doesn't work over the phone. They need identification.
 
YAPOC said:
They need identification.
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Which is in general a good thing :-) Did you guys notice that FNB have a scanned colour image of your ID book on their systems for new accounts? It's brilliant - it should put a stop to at least some identity theft problems.
 
YAPOC said:
Had this problem recently with FNB. Apparently the system was changed and even the branch you register your account with doesn't have permission to activate your internet banking. Basically they referred me to validations department - you can get their number by calling FNB. Or they can put in a request at the branch. You need to go into the branch though to get things done as I experienced. Just doesn't work over the phone. They need identification.
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Yup... FNB do that to me too, anything reasonanly serious all banks now want you to go into the bank, which sucks.
 
I've been with FNB since I was about 6, so that's 16 years now. My mom had some family working there, a cousin's chile or something. I still remember being treated well at the branch and being made to feel important. When they took my little collection of R2, R5 and R10 notes, I felt safe handing it over. Then I got the smiley BOB card. Still have that somewhere at home :D

A few years back when I started working, converting my account wasn't so bad, just a bit irritating with the FICA stuff. Once it was going, I've had no problems. Got my internet banking hooked up and haven't looked back since. When I applied for my credit card, I was helped by some extremely helpful staff, who helped me get one despite the fact I was under 21 at the time.

About the only pain I have is bank charges, but I can live with that for now.
I'm a happy FNB customer, and recommend it to anyone who's interested in opening an account.

BTW, FNB Online Banking hasn't been hacked like ABSA was, and the inContact service is a life saver.
 
I hate these copy and paste replies they give on HelloPeter. They should describe the steps they will take to remedy the situation so that other people can see it to. I'm pretty sure most of the copy and paste jobs doesn't lead to the issue being solved, just one half hearted phone call and then they try to follow the normal process - which failed the first time around anyway.

ABSA started responding to one of my older queries but then suddenly they were silent and didn't contact me again. The last communication I got from them was:
Morning xxxx,

Let me see if I'll be able to upgrade your account without any involvement from your side. I'll let you know as soon as possible.

One last thing, your current cheque account is still domiciled in Hatfield Pretoria. Please advise on the status of your residential address? Will it be in order to transfer your portfolio to a branch near your current address?

I'll appreciate the feedback in order to continue with the process.

Kind Regards,

Ernst Botma
Ceo & Exco Customer Liaison
Group Customer Experience
Absa Bank Ltd
T - 011 350 6183
F - 011 350 7733
[email protected]
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They didn't manage to move me from one branch to another. They also did not contact me after this again. Not even a "We are unable to meet your demands.".
 
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My Banking costs are currently around R160... seriously considering FNB after this thread. True test however will be the next month or so, if all goes well for you i'll jump!

Haha, just remembered a bit more fuel for the fire: when I originally applied for my accounts at absa I had to muck about for 3 weeks (multiple queries, on-holds, please waits, queues and faxes) to get my cards sorted out...
 
The students who are now earning salaries, it seems to depend on your branch but I've heard some stories of accounts being suspended for this reason. I just received a few calls from some strict sounding woman, but before I managed to find the time to get to my branch I saw on my internet banking that they had already upgraded me to the Smart account. Others haven't been so lucky... My excuse at the time for not upgrading was that my branch manager had suggested to me to stay on the student account due to the lower fees! I doubt any other bank would do that... +1 for FNB!
 
cashmoney said:
I LOVE ABSA....wouldnt you if you only payed R15 a month in bank charges:)
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How do you manage that? Internet Bank subscription per month alone is R19,95. Minimum monthly service fee is R30 on a current account .. so you are at R49,95 without actually doing anything yet. A debit order is minimum R5 for first R100 + R1,35 for each R100 ... so for any decent debit order it maxes out at R28?

To pay someone over the internet is R3 for first R100 then R0.60 per additional R100. Which compares well to an ABSA ATM R3 for first R100 then R0.90 thereafter. How can they justify making a internet banking transaction almost as expensive as withdrawing cash and paying a person physically?
 
I just received my final bank statement from Absa - for the half month of March (before I closed my account) - paid the princely sum of R381 banking fees - FOR HALF A MONTH?!
 
Progress Report:

I got all my cards, internet banking activated and working. I have notified all the people that need to change my debit order details. This is very fast considering that I opened my accounts monday afternoon (less than 5 working days)!

The service is excellent. Cellphone notifications all the way. Cards/accounts are activated within minutes of getting them. I collected my cards from Century City and it was so fast I didn't even have to pay for my parking!!!!

And you can buy prepaid electricity at the ATM (whohooo...), but not, unfortunately, with internet banking :-(

The has been remarkably painless and I can recommend it to anybody at this stage.
 
I'm actually now thinking of staying with FNB... I keep getting stupid calls from ABSA Credit Card division to let me knwo my application has been approved, and all they need is my acceptance of the quote.

I have told my banker that I will not accept anything from ABSA that is less than what I have at FNB, so far, everything has been less, and its been going on since the 12th of March.

FNB Credit Card:
Credit Card Limit: R30,000 on straight and budget, I had it reduced late last year. No monthly charges. Interest Rate 16.5%
ABSA Credit Card:
Will only offer me R20,000. And there attitude has been take it or leave it. R50/pm charge. Interest Rate 16.5%

FNB Petrol Card:
Limit equal to credit card.
ABSA Petrol Card:
Limit is R1500. I told them to keep the card, two and a half takes in my Hilux and thats gone.

Things arn't looking good, they have until Wednesday next week to sort this all out, else I'm staying put.
 
xrapidx said:
I'm actually now thinking of staying with FNB... I keep getting stupid calls from ABSA Credit Card division to let me knwo my application has been approved, and all they need is my acceptance of the quote.

I have told my banker that I will not accept anything from ABSA that is less than what I have at FNB, so far, everything has been less, and its been going on since the 12th of March.

FNB Credit Card:
Credit Card Limit: R30,000 on straight and budget, I had it reduced late last year. No monthly charges. Interest Rate 16.5%
ABSA Credit Card:
Will only offer me R20,000. And there attitude has been take it or leave it. R50/pm charge. Interest Rate 16.5%

FNB Petrol Card:
Limit equal to credit card.
ABSA Petrol Card:
Limit is R1500. I told them to keep the card, two and a half takes in my Hilux and thats gone.

Things arn't looking good, they have until Wednesday next week to sort this all out, else I'm staying put.
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U tried ABSA private banking?
 
alf101 said:
U tried ABSA private banking?
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Thats who I'm talking about (with ABSA)...

With FNB I only deal wit two peopel, and thats it. If I need a new account, or anything changed I email them, and those two people contact me if anything further is required.

With ABSA, it seems their Private Bank works like their normal bank, if you need anything done, it goes through the normal processes of me having to deal with 10 different people, if that is the case, I'm not interested.

The whole point of Private Banking, is to create a relationship with one person, and that person takes care of your needs.
 
xrapidx said:
Thats who I'm talking about (with ABSA)...

With FNB I only deal wit two peopel, and thats it. If I need a new account, or anything changed I email them, and those two people contact me if anything further is required.

With ABSA, it seems their Private Bank works like their normal bank, if you need anything done, it goes through the normal processes of me having to deal with 10 different people, if that is the case, I'm not interested.

The whole point of Private Banking, is to create a relationship with one person, and that person takes care of your needs.
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Haven't tried them myself.
Avoid Nedbank's private banking as well, sister was with them.

I do most of my banking on the internet and only go to a branch around 3 times a year.
 
ABSA have a functioning Private Bank?.. sheesh, they can barely manage a normal bank, and now they're dealing with fussy rich clients?.. thats gotta be funny to watch.
 
ToxicBunny said:
ABSA have a functioning Private Bank...
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Actually, I feel for the guy from ABSA Private Bank, he's doing his best, and hitting walls.... he's getting just as angry and frustrated as I am, trying to explain to the rest of ABSA that he is responsible for, and deals with his clients, not them... But I've told him either way, they have till Wednesday, then I close the accounts. A month is more than enough to sort this out.


ToxicBunny said:
with fussy rich clients?.. thats gotta be funny to watch.
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The reason for a Private Bank is because its supposed to make banking easier, you get personal service from one person, and don't have to deal with the usual crap - ABSA haven't quite got the concept right yet. I'm not sure when they started their Private Bank, I know it was over a year ago at least. They've also recently increased the minumum income requirement - I'm not sure why, considering they're not letting the Private Bank act as its on entity.
 
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xrapidx said:
Actually, I feel for the guy from ABSA Private Bank, he's doing his best, and hitting walls.... he's getting just as angry and frustrated as I am, trying to explain to the rest of ABSA that he is responsible for, and deals with his clients, not them... But I've told him either way, they have till Wednesday, then I close the accounts. A month is more than enough to sort this out.




The reason for a Private Bank is because its supposed to make banking easier, you get personal service from one person, and don't have to deal with the usual crap - ABSA haven't quite got the concept right yet. I'm not sure when they started their Private Bank, I know it was over a year ago at least. They've also recently increased the minumum income requirement - I'm not sure why, considering they're not letting the Private Bank act as its on entity.
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Investec allegedly have the best one.
Never seen one of their atm's though.

http://www.investec.com/SouthAfrica/PrivateBank
 
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