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Client not happy with FNB's 'advice'

Cape Town - FNB has denied that it refuses prospective clients the opportunity to open bank accounts in response to a Fin24 user's concern that the bank may have discriminated against his partner.

Fin24 user Isaac said in an emailed letter to Fin24 that he was shocked to learn that an FNB branch wouldn't open an account for his girlfriend unless she had her salary paid into the account.

He writes: “I went with my girlfriend to open a bank account for her at the FNB branch. With all relevant documents it was supposed to be an easy thing.

It came as a surprise when the teller asked if my girlfriend was employed, to which she said yes. Before the account could be opened, the teller told her, they would also work on rescheduling her debit orders to FNB.

When she said she was not immediately going to use FNB to deposit her salary, we were informed that the bank does not open accounts if the account holder is not ready to use their account for salary payments.

Just when we were speaking the bank manager passed by and recognised my girlfriend. It turned out that they had met earlier and talked about the required documents.

We thought that she was coming to our rescue, but that was not the case.

Having been an FNB account holder for over ten years, I am sure this cannot be correct. I have never experienced such treatment.

My questions are:

• The country is facing massive unemployment, what about people who are unemployed?
• Surely this is discrimination against the unemployed?
• The bank uses too much money to lure in potential clients, why chase them away on arrival?
• Is this the new way the bank works?
• Does the bank have a policy of dictating to consumers how to use their bank accounts?

FNB responds:

"It is not FNB policy to refuse prospective clients the opportunity to open bank accounts on the basis that their salary will not be paid into an FNB account.

As a bank, we have a wide selection of accounts designed for students and minors, and this group of clients does not earn a salary.

With reference to your query, it was established that the client’s boyfriend refused to understand the bank’s rationale for advising the client to opt for an investment account as this would attract better interest because her aim is to build up savings.

The client later called the branch manager to apologise for the boyfriend’s behaviour and the matter has been settled."

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Disclaimer: All letters and comments published in MyFin24 have been independently written by members of the Fin24 community. The views are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent those of Fin24.

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