Bashing The Banks

I FULLY agree with recent letters complaining about the level of local bank charges (high) and service (low).

They, the banks, talk of the cost of staff and premises. But these days, banks are anyway basically a computer and a hole in the wall, so why do they need staff and fancy branches and head offices? People used to have personal relationships with their bank manager – now I have no idea who my bank manager is, even if there is one – perhaps he has been replaced by a computer programme.And people who have any sense don’t go into branches anymore, since this means queuing for two hours for the privilege of gaining access to your own money.Take for instance the new Swakop branch of the FNB – this used to be a pleasant and mildly old-fashioned environment with wooden counters all around the hall where you went for the particular service you wanted.Now all this has been ripped out by some interior-design genius at vast expense, so that all that remains is a bare expanse and one ‘customer care’ point, which means a single queue for everything stretching right out of the door.Recently I needed a new ATM card, which of course you can’t get out of an ATM itself, so I joined the queue.An hour later, I gave up – it had barely moved.Phone the bank instead? You are joking – you get into one of those endless loop answering machines, or otherwise get put through to everyone in the organisation before you reach a person who can help you.And bank charges – it’s amazing how they can be quietly quadrupled without any publicity.For instance, the charges on an electronic transfer rose from N$2.50 to N$9 overnight.And the minimum charge on a cheque (at my bank) is now N$9 – so that if you write a cheque for N$20 it costs you N$29! Oh yes, and N$18 charges for a ‘cash’ cheque.So if banks want to lower their costs, I suggest firing 95% of their staff and closing 95% of their branches.No one will notice the difference.And keep your money under the mattress, and pay cash – even given the odd burglary, you will be better off.Anti-Bank WindhoekBut these days, banks are anyway basically a computer and a hole in the wall, so why do they need staff and fancy branches and head offices? People used to have personal relationships with their bank manager – now I have no idea who my bank manager is, even if there is one – perhaps he has been replaced by a computer programme.And people who have any sense don’t go into branches anymore, since this means queuing for two hours for the privilege of gaining access to your own money.Take for instance the new Swakop branch of the FNB – this used to be a pleasant and mildly old-fashioned environment with wooden counters all around the hall where you went for the particular service you wanted.Now all this has been ripped out by some interior-design genius at vast expense, so that all that remains is a bare expanse and one ‘customer care’ point, which means a single queue for everything stretching right out of the door.Recently I needed a new ATM card, which of course you can’t get out of an ATM itself, so I joined the queue.An hour later, I gave up – it had barely moved.Phone the bank instead? You are joking – you get into one of those endless loop answering machines, or otherwise get put through to everyone in the organisation before you reach a person who can help you.And bank charges – it’s amazing how they can be quietly quadrupled without any publicity.For instance, the charges on an electronic transfer rose from N$2.50 to N$9 overnight.And the minimum charge on a cheque (at my bank) is now N$9 – so that if you write a cheque for N$20 it costs you N$29! Oh yes, and N$18 charges for a ‘cash’ cheque.So if banks want to lower their costs, I suggest firing 95% of their staff and closing 95% of their branches.No one will notice the difference.And keep your money under the mattress, and pay cash – even given the odd burglary, you will be better off. Anti-Bank Windhoek