ABSA Business Banking doesn't keep their word

Empty promises from a bank. Who would have guessed?

This review comes with a very heavy heart. In 2020, I had a falling out with FNB, who was then my primary bank for my company. Initially ABSA came to me and offered an amazing deal. This was almost too good to be true. I opened the account with ABSA, knowing that my company is going to grow in 2020 and 2021, and by the grace of God it did.

Months pass, and I try to get a hold of my business relationship manager, Sifiso Dhludhlu, but to no avail(this was during the work-from-home phase). In the passing week, I tried to contact him 22 times with not so much as a call back.

By this stage I'm waiting for ABSA to now fulfill their part of the offer, but I haven't heard a word. Slowly but surely, we moved our business away back to FNB. We used ABSA as a petty cash card.

On 03/01/2021 I call Sifiso and he answers the call, only vaguely remembering me. I request to close the account. Without hesitation or asking for a reason he simply agrees to close the account. I send a letterhead requesting that the accounts be closed, and just like that, we're done.

Let's contrast this with FNB. When I told FNB that I'm moving to ABSA, the asked me to stay, gave me a new personal banker who treated my company like gold. Her name is Justine Smith, and Justine kept every word of her promise. She phoned twice a month to check in and see how things are going and whether we need anything. Even when her portfolio changed, we were given a banker, Mfundo Zulu. Mfundo goes so far as to gym with his clients. I have never seen service like this.

ABSA, I'll give you my banker's number so that you can call him and ask how banking is done.