How is Absa so bad in 2023?

[BlueCrayon]

So yesterday I decided it was time to change to a different bank, so I walked into Absa and got an account there.

And oh my goodness this bank makes me feel like it's still stuck in 2003? I had to log in online ( which was already a mission to activate ) Just to change my notifications to go through the app, and not email because the consultant spelled my e-mail address wrong.

Is Absa really this bad or am I just used to EZPZ Capitec?

/vent

 

[Spectre]

The one in my Town is terrible.... well the Google reviews tell it all.

FNB and Nedbank are better options in my own opinion

 

[NemoXX7]

FNB FTW. Can transact between my current, savings and paypal accounts seamlessly online or on the app

 

[∀Z‾soʇɐuɐɥ┴]

Absa is like our Government, all promised before they have your money, but as soon as they have it you can get fucked...

 

[BlueCrayon]

Absa is like our Government, all promised before they have your money, but as soon as they have it you can get fucked...

Craziest part was by 11am I was the third new customer that signed up by that consultant yesterday, so they're not short of any new clients.

Kinda thinking I should leave them before I get in too deep and change my debit orders etc..

 

[∀Z‾soʇɐuɐɥ┴]

Craziest part was by 11am I was the third new customer that signed up by that consultant yesterday, so they're not short of any new clients.

Kinda thinking I should leave them before I get in too deep and change my debit orders etc..

Unless you specifically need anything like business accounts etc, I would say look at Capitec.
Bit hard to pass on the R7.50 payment for instant eft's regardless of amount, and they are instant regardless of target bank too.

 

[Kamikaze]

So yesterday I decided it was time to change to a different bank, so I walked into Absa and got an account there.

And oh my goodness this bank makes me feel like it's still stuck in 2003? I had to log in online ( which was already a mission to activate ) Just to change my notifications to go through the app, and not email because the consultant spelled my e-mail address wrong.

Is Absa really this bad or am I just used to EZPZ Capitec?

/vent

Of all the banks you could have gone to, why ABSA?? A few friends are there for years and they always complain about their services.

 

[∀Z‾soʇɐuɐɥ┴]

Of all the banks you could have gone to, why ABSA?? A few friends are there for years and they always complain about their services.

Same shit with Standard Bank

 

[Scrooloose]

It all depends on the consultant who you worked with.

We live in a time where people in general take no pride in the work they deliver. They're just there for the lunch breaks and pay cheques.

I have an account with ABSA which I haven't accessed in a long time. I went in to a branch that is renowned for it's poor service, but I somehow ended up with a service consultant that is deeply invested in her work. I had 5 things that I needed to work through, and she helped me resolve each one of those matters.

So it's just luck of the draw. Do you end up with a mediocre worker, a kak worker or an excellent worker? The bets are on.

 

[Confucius]

I’ve been with Absa since probably 1996 with a savings account and a Cheque account from 2005. Never had issues with them. Financed 2 properties, a few vehicles and they always have me the best rates.

It’s a bank… they take your money and pay peanuts. When you want to borrow, they lend and charge interest. Don’t understand why it needs to be complicated.

I’ve been with nedbank and they were worse. FNB just seems too gimmicky for me. Also have discovery mainly for the rewards. Also have Capitec but they are also crap.

End of the day, depends what you are looking for. Absa is not the cheapest , but I get decent service to not make me want to leave.

 

[Divan85]

I have no sympathy for ABSA clients, they are absolute dogshit. I was with them from the start. Eventually just though F.. it and moved to FNB. Won't ever go back. If you are unhappy... move. Its simple. It is just pure laziness from people not wanting to move banks and that is why they put up with pathetic service. Just move and spare yourself the headache that is ABSA.

 

[Areola Grande]

FNB man, FNB.

Condolences.

 

[Spectre]

I have no sympathy for ABSA clients, they are absolute dogshit. I was with them from the start. Eventually just though F.. it and moved to FNB. Won't ever go back. If you are unhappy... move. Its simple. It is just pure laziness from people not wanting to move banks and that is why they put up with pathetic service. Just move and spare yourself the headache that is ABSA.

+1

Even if you compare the ABSA app to FNB, it's like chalk and cheese.

I can't speak for everyone because we all have different experiences, but I can say that FNB does make things easier

 

[PaladinLaw]

Bruh, when has ABSA ever not been bad?

Why anyone would even consider them as an option (along with those fools at Standard Wank) is beyond me

 

[Confucius]

Bruh, when has ABSA ever not been bad?

Why anyone would even consider them as an option (along with those fools at Standard Wank) is beyond me

I’ve been with Absa since probably 1996 with a savings account and a Cheque account from 2005. Never had issues with them. Financed 2 properties, a few vehicles and they always have me the best rates.

It’s a bank… they take your money and pay peanuts. When you want to borrow, they lend and charge interest. Don’t understand why it needs to be complicated.

I’ve been with nedbank and they were worse. FNB just seems too gimmicky for me. Also have discovery mainly for the rewards. Also have Capitec but they are also crap.

End of the day, depends what you are looking for. Absa is not the cheapest , but I get decent service to not make me want to leave.

 

[Dom]

So yesterday I decided it was time to change to a different bank, so I walked into Absa and got an account there.

And oh my goodness this bank makes me feel like it's still stuck in 2003? I had to log in online ( which was already a mission to activate ) Just to change my notifications to go through the app, and not email because the consultant spelled my e-mail address wrong.

Is Absa really this bad or am I just used to EZPZ Capitec?

/vent

ABSA has always been crap.

 

[Confucius]

ABSA has always been crap.

Well, someone did lose >100k with FNB recently and the fraud wasn’t flagged. From experience, absa does flag some transactions and will call me to verify.

I guess each to their own. Everyone’s requirements are different. The instant payment with absa is normally crap but with a small workaround, you can still do instant payments. In the long run, I save more with absa because I get better rates.

 

[Ruandl]

In terms of on-site service, I think your experience will be shared accross all banks, this isn't something unique to ASBA. I work in the industry as a consultant and we have found that service delivery at all banks are a pain point.

But the one area that I would say you should consider or use as a comparison metric is their digital experience and in this regard ABSA really has a bad reputation and approach. I would personally rate them very low on the list because a lot of their digital features/journeys actually ends up with customers having to go on-site.

Banks that are "with the times" are the ones that have really invested a lot into their digital platforms, ABSA decided to rather invest in their "Africanacity" this is their African way to get things done, whatever that means. The likes of FNB and Discovery are good examples of banks who invest in their digital experiences, not perfect but better.

Not saying everything comes down to the digital experience but opening a bank account is a "admin" type of thing that comes with frustrations, the better the digital products the less you have to go into the bank.

 

[BlueCrayon]

Of all the banks you could have gone to, why ABSA?? A few friends are there for years and they always complain about their services.

Well, someone did lose >100k with FNB recently and the fraud wasn’t flagged. From experience, absa does flag some transactions and will call me to verify.

I guess each to their own. Everyone’s requirements are different. The instant payment with absa is normally crap but with a small workaround, you can still do instant payments. In the long run, I save more with absa because I get better rates.

This is true for me also, recently they gave me an interest rate that was 2.40% lower than the the other banks.

I guess the above played a factor, and I never dealt with them before so how was I supposed to know it was bad? But so we learn.

 

[Confucius]

This is true for me also, recently they gave me an interest rate that was 2.40% lower than the the other banks.

If it’s 2.4% on a 20 year bond, live with the issues. You save a lot.

Other option is have more than 1 bank. My salary goes into absa and my bond and vehicle finance and debit orders go out from absa. I’m on tier 5 for absa rewards so get the 30% cash back on fuel and 30% cash back on groceries. So I get back about 1K cash a month from rewards.

I use discovery for other transactions and I’m on the highest tier for vitality so get 50% cash back on healthy foods at Woolies as well as vitality products at Dis-Chem. Also get the 30% discount if I purchase from partners on the miles day.

Find out what works out best for you and screw what everybody else says.

 

[StangV2_0]

Cant be worse than Standard Bank...? But to be fair I choose to stay with them.. So I shoudnt moan.

My biggest gripe with SBank is the immediate payments sometimes still take 2-3 days. I had an eft made to me, immediate payment, from SBank to wife's Capitec. Immediate was chosen because next day was a public holiday which was the Wed the 9th August. Payment made on Tuesday (a normal work day) at 12 mid day.
Payment only reflected Thursday 10am.

On the other hand, my wife is on Capitec and I am impressed with immediate payments made from her account. Did one on Friday afternoon at 17h30 and went through immediately to an FNB account,

 

[Ner0]

closed my absa in 2013 moved to nedbank no issues anymore , maybe i am just lucky

 

[el3venth]

Banks are about one thing only. Interest rate.
I do not care about a couple of cashback bucks or anything else.

ABSA has given me the lowest rate by far on three properties.

 

[PHalanKS]

Fnb if you need a real bank. Capitec if you want something quick, easy, cheap.
The other big 3 suck, there’s a few new ones popular with scammers and now there’s Discovery which is still a bit of an unknown quantity.

 

[LouisABC]

Bank branches still exist?

Last time I went to a bank, was when I told FNB to shove it in 2011. Since then, no more banking hassles.

 

[Pickled_Dick]

Was with ABSA for years with no issues,
moved to discovery as it made sense to have all my stuff with them as i already had a few discovery products and max my rewards

 

[Ech0.]

Any Discovery chads here?

 

[Sweiss_]

Any Discovery chads here?

Still have my Absa account, but moved basically all my debit orders to Discovery over the past year since I already had a credit card and medical with them and been digging it so far.

 

[Andrew_Smith]

Any Discovery chads here?

Yup, very happy with them.

Banking, Medical and Insurance.

I haven't encountered any issues yet (personally, I'm a strong advocate for avoiding in-person bank visits whenever possible). As I'm still in the early stages of my career, I don't have any property under my name as of now. I've also been informed by others that ABSA offers the most competitive rates on home loans, but I'll consider that matter when the time comes.

 

[Reaper7854]

Work at Standard Bank now but man I miss my FNB account.
Standard Bank is decent but FNB did it all.