FNB Business Banking 101 #FNB #Business #Banking

Firstly, sorry for not writing this sooner; I could have saved someone like @saulkza (http://twitter.com/saulkza/status/15413382885) some hassles; so in the interest in saving others, I have decided to write a brief post about my FNB business banking experience…

Contents:

1. What happened to me

2. What you should do

1. What happened to me

1.1 Account Creation

- I walked into the “Business Banking” section ( what was written on the “reception sign” ).

- I waited awhile before someone noticed me and invited me to their cubicle.

- I was told that my account would be created the next day by the dude in the cubicle.

- The next day, I was told that my account wasn’t created yet and that I’m being referred to a “Commercial Banker“.

- I phoned the “Commercial Banker” who said that they could come out to my business.

-> I said “nah, lets meet at the actual FNB branch”

- I met with the “Commercial Banker” at the FNB branch inside the “Business Banking” section

-> Signed a whole load of documents

-> He said that he would call me when the account is created; then I would be able to take the account number and get a debit card as well as being able to apply for a cheque card.

- I waited 1 week; then I phoned the “Commercial Banker” who said it’s still being processed and that he would call me when it’s ready.

- 2 weeks later I call him again and said to me that the account was created and that he already gave me the account number ( I’m guessing that they marked it on the system? ), so he said that he would give it to me again and that I could take it into the branch and get my debit card and apply for a cheque card.

1.2 Account Cards & Internet Banking

- So I went back into the branch the next day and waited in the queue marked “Card Collection” for 30 minutes only to be told that they don’t handle business cards and to go to the general enquiries queue.

- I joined the now long general enquiries queue.

- 45 minutes later and I was ready to go go go!

- The general enquiries dude (GED) was clued up hey…

- Firstly, there was missing information on the application of my account, so the account was frozen (brrr, before it even started?!)

- The GED helped me unfreeze it by getting the required docs and making me sign and initial the bunch of them.

- After that ( which took some time ), I was awarded a Business Debit Card (woohoo!)

- But before I was able to get internet banking, I had to deposit some dosh into the account to activate it; the teller section was closed but another FNB guy helped me deposit using the new ATM machine ( it accepts notes in a fancy rolling thingy – kudos to the FNB guy who helped, he was deaf btw )

- I went back to my GED and got the internet banking activated.

- It was closing time, in fact, the doors were closed.

- I went home and was able to create my online banking profile at www.fnb.co.za, phew!

- I decided to leave the cheque card for another time ~ bleh!

- Side note: get there early if ya wanna have a quicker experience; mine lasted 3 hours! (from 2-5pm)

1. What you should do

Account Creation, Cards & Internet Banking

- Forget the reception sign that says “Business Banking”

- Walk to the “blue glass window sections” and queue there ( I know business banking is not listed there, have no clue why?!  )

- Ask to start a business account

- The person there should be able to setup a business account with you within a day or two ( so I’m told by the GED who helped me out )

- If all else fails, go find your own GEDude(tte) and they will definitely sort you out ( the yellow section ).

Hope this helps any other potential FNB business clients.

TM

“Awesomeness lies in the hands of the brave”

Posted via email from TigerMunky’s Grrreat Trek

Banking Experience v1.2

So it has been quite some time since I have heard anything from FNB ( they said they would get back to me ), I decided to check on them. They said they “told me already” and a little while along the conversation, they ask me, “so you didn’t get the SMS?”; if by you saying “told me”, meant that you assumed an SMS reached me, then, you definitely did not “tell” me!

Anyhow, the account is open, and as usual, life must go on.

 

Some of the things the banks have taught me…

First rule of banking: there is no such thing as perfect banking.

Rule two: if you want a status update on anything, do it yourself, waste that extra time and energy to find out what is happening and to make sure that nothing has been lost into the aether.

Rule three: never assume that someone is going to get what they say they will do, done quickly or within the quoted time.

Rule four: stay calm when approached with human/system error; crying over the spilt milk never helps anyone.

Rule five: work at moving forward, the past is that what it is, it can only help you with the future but won’t help anyone in the present.

 

TM

always be

Posted via web from TigerMunky’s Grrreat Trek

Banking Experience v1.1

[ Initial Post ~ http://www.tigermunky.com/banking-experience-v10 ]

 

Right, so just to update you on my experience of opening up an FNB Business Banking account thus far…

 

8 April (Thur) – Visited FNB Branch.

12 April (Mon) – Met with a Business account consultant, signed a lot of documents.

15 April (Thur) – Confirmed that my account should be created by the end of today.

22 April (Thur) – ETA of my paperwork confirmed and a copy sent to my branch. Should be able to get my debit and cheque card as well as internet banking on this day.

 

If everything goes well, the whole process would have essentially taken 10 business days.

 

In terms of PayPal info, I would say it is pretty scarce at this stage; what I have been told, is that I won’t have to get a separate PayPal account and that my FNB account will be able to upgrade/attach that service; hopefully will be able to clarify and get more info when I get my internet banking online.

 

TM

Awesomeness lies in the hands of the brave.

Posted via web from TigerMunky’s Grrreat Trek

Banking Experience v1.0

Hokay, so I visited FNB today and I will be starting a new business account with them tomorrow. Below I mainly describe my experience thus far with Standard Bank (Std Bank) and FNB as Std Bank is my current preferred bank. I’m an “ex-NedBank” customer if you must know. [ Service Comparison ] I still prefer Std Bank as my branch as it is organised, warmly greets you, are seated with a ticket number and seen to very quickly ( 5 min during peak time. Sure, maybe I was “lucky” ). I have to say that my first FNB experience today wasn’t so fantastic as a new “business banker” but I was determined for the sake of SA-PayPal connectivity. There was a seating area with a tv, no one in sight and after 20 minutes, one of the consultants finished and attended to me. ABSA, please get off your pedestal, I really don’t like having to make an appointment just to see you about starting a business bank account. [ Pay Pal know how ] They haven’t officially been trained or know anything about PayPal except for receiving a memo or something to let them know that it’s on its way. So I have taken a calculated guess that I will need a business account that has internet banking at a minimum ( There are 3 types of business accounts but only one that has internet banking ). They made a copy of my documents ( listed below ) and said that they would have all the paperwork sorted by tomorrow for me to just sign. [ Business account startup comparison ] I am quite impressed with the time it takes to start a business account with FNB; with Std Bank, it took me 3 weeks. It would have taken a week or less but something happened to my application… and funny enough, I was the only “unlucky” person out of all their business bankers that month ( several hundred ). I’ll admit, I could have just been that last 1% for the month. [ Card facility comparison ] I get a Visa cheque card and cheque book out the box with Std Bank ( connecting it with online shopping was a little mission but not because of Std Bank but Visa ). With FNB, I am told that I will be getting a debit card and cheque book out the box and a cheque card once I have cash flowing in and out for 6 months. I will be finding out the fee comparison tomorrow but currently, I am paying R75 flat a month for my Std Bank business cheque account which has free internet banking (including low transaction fees) ABSA and NedBank! ( Yes, I have shopped around and they don’t give it for free, it’s an additional R90 for ABSA and R15 for NedBank for internet banking; you don’t want to even know about the fees for transacting ) [ Business Account Information - type of accounts, features, fee structure, pricing, etc.] ABSA – You have to pull out their teeth before they make you a photocopy of some of their account info for you to go over in your own time. FNB – Umm, the guy said he would email me more info, haven’t received an email, so I guess he forgot to; understandable as he could be busy with all the paperwork he has to get ready for me to sign tomorrow. NedBank – Reluctantly printed out several pages for me to peruse at a later stage. Standard Bank – Said yes, here it is, and handed me a simple neat brochure. Hey, but don’t listen to me, my info could be outdated by now and they could have new pricing structures and lower fees as I was only shopping around the beginningish of 2010. [ FYI ] As per usual, you will need the following to open a business account: * Your green barcoded ID book. * Some proof of address ( I showed them my latest monthly Std Bank account statement [haha] ) * Company document showing you own the business ( I are using a CC for this, so I showed them a CK1 ) [ If ya wanna register a company in South Africa, you can go here: http://www.cipro.co.za ] I think a CC is the cheapest way for a freelancer to create a company and look more professional. The con is that you would actually have to run a company ( just keep up with admin in terms of tax but you could get an accountant to do that for you, a little more dosh though; so speak to your accountant friends first ; )

 

TM

Awesomeness lies in the hands of the brave

Posted via web from TigerMunky’s Grrreat Trek