SA banks can follow our spirit of optimism

NOW THAT South Africa has a new chief executive, we shareholders are anxious to see whether we can expect a new level of service delivery. I certainly hope so. The country’s business record has not been exactly inspiring in recent years.

There does seem to be feelings of new optimism in the air, though, and that’s good. My financial adviser at the bank I go to looked at my investment portfolio (which is a pretentious way of saying my savings account) and said he thought it would soon be earning a bit more for me as the general state of the economy improves.

He didn’t say “if”. He said “when”. I’d like to think businesses will begin to take pride in themselves now too. Goodness knows, the standard of service among many of our businesses is almost as bad as that of Zupta (Pty) Ltd.

An American friend visiting South Africa recently transferred money to a local bank, where he had held an account for almost 20 years, ever since he emigrated to the US. When he arrived at OR Tambo International Airport he tried to get his hands on some of his money, but nobody could trace it.

He travelled to Bloemfontein and spent half a day there, talking to officials at the bank, but they couldn’t help him.

They tried to phone head office, but head office did not answer their phone. He tried again at the Middelburg branch of the bank and the kind teller said she would call the head office and find out what was going on.

For two days she tried, but the bank’s head office did not answer their phone once.

My friend later went to the Beaufort West branch and tried to get his money without success. The teller in Beaufort West said he was not to worry, she’d call head office and sort it out. Head office did not answer calls.

When last I heard, the bank’s branches were still frantically trying to contact their head office with no results. If the bank’s head office doesn’t answer calls from their own branches, what hope do ordinary clients have of getting service?

It all sounded rather like dealing with a Zupta-era state department. Maybe banks and other service organisations should take their lead from the government.

I hope that bank has not transferred its chief executive to Dubai. We hope the new board of directors of SA Ltd will inspire a spirit of at least giving a damn.

I should admit here that I deal with a different bank, where the service is pretty good. I don’t know where their head office is, so I wouldn’t know whether they answer their phones or not. So far they haven’t invested any of my money in fake dairy farms.

Last Laugh

Bob and Charley had been drinking in the pub since it opened, and were becoming a little confused.

“Hey Bob,” said Charley, “how about a game of darts?”

“Okay,” said Bob, “the one closest to the bull starts.”

“Baa!” Said Charley.

“Moo!” Said Bob.

“Right then, I guess you start,” said Charley.

– David Biggs