Help with Bank Accounts

[eitai2001]

I have been with FNB for 17 years now. I have had one or two issues over the years but nothing terrible. I have been approached by other institutions like Investec but have always thought that they were first a merchant/corporate bank and after that a individual bank. At FNB I am like any other client (is this a good or bad thing?) but at Investec I would be a high net worth customer that demands and get more personal attention. Personally I would rather blend into the woodwork than stick out. Clients that I play golf with that have Investec cards tend to be more flashy with their Investec cards, like it is a status symbol.

For some it is a status symbol ... I'm more worried about the real benefits :P

[dcs]

Firstly, let me congratulate you on your honours.

For what its worth, I hate all banks equally. What you gain on the swings, you lose on the roundabouts, etc etc. The big four are not really in competition, merely monitor each other in terms of bank charges, interest rates, branch locations and so on.

The private banks tend to have far more stringent requirements to qualify for an account with them. Investec specifically waives requirements for CA's and aspirant CA's. I guess the other private banks would be pretty similar.

In terms of rating which bank is better, the big four will vary with the branch manger and the actual staff member you deal with. Capitec would also fall under this category. The private banks will give you much better service because you have a private banker on the other end of the phone and only get that with a business account in the commercial banks.

The real issues with banks only arise when the sh1* hits the fan. You should, despite your qualification, read some material on banking. There is a ton of it, and depending on what you plan to do with your life, the 'Crashproof your business' book by Peter Carruthers is a good starting point. That uncommon sense might make you plan to open accounts at more than one bank.

David

[Dave A]

the 'Crashproof your business' book by Peter Carruthers is a good starting point.

Should be compulsory reading for CA's in my opinion.

[KimH]

Hi Kim, thanks for sharing the story. Didn't realise Bulldog's went for so much

I personally won't touch Nedbank due to a family vendetta against them ... they nearly financially crippled my sister due to stuff ups on their side. Of course this wasn't the private banking section, and it took lots of lawyers and friends on the inside of Nedbank to sort it out.

Regards

Itai

The Mervander line of bullies (drool) are much more expensive.

Sorry to hear about what happened to your sister, sadly this type of incompetence from so many businesses these days is far too prevalent - hope the new Consumer Protection Act does it's bit to pull things together.

At the end of the day all banks have their positive and negative points and the only way to truly find the right fit is probably by trial and error.

[OnePilot]

Crashproof should be compulsory reading for all wannabee entrepreneurs and business owners - especially start ups

[murdock]

just to tell you my story about nedbank...i had a motor vehicle accident as soon as they realised i was in a bad way they sent a letter notifiying me that i had 7 days to pay up everything bussiness cheque accounts gargae cards...credit cards you name it...which of course i couldnt...they called in all my surity and i lost everything...if there was only one bank and it was nedbank i would keep my money under my bed.