Based on recent customer reviews, Discovery Bank is described as a digitally ambitious bank whose service delivery repeatedly falls short of its marketing. Customers consistently report accounts blocked or frozen without explanation, closure requests that continue accruing fees, app lockouts that cut off access to funds, and promised callbacks that never arrive. A recurring bright spot is individual consultants who are praised by name for genuine, patient help.
Top Strengths:
- •Staff & Branch Experience: Individual consultants such as Etshabelo, Sibongile, Elincia, Yazeed and Sabelo are repeatedly praised by name for patience and product knowledge. The Sandton store and airport lounge also draw occasional praise, though rude or dismissive agents feature heavily too.
Replied to 95% of negative reviews
Reply time on negative reviews: 5h 12m
TrustIndex
3.3
Ranking
#5
in Banking
Reply Time
4h 58m
NPS Score
-76
Recommended: Unlikely
Replied to 95% of negative reviews
Reply time on negative reviews: 5h 12m
Nov '25 - Oct '26
Frequently Asked Questions About Discovery Bank
What do customers say about Discovery Bank?
Based on recent customer reviews, Discovery Bank is described as a digitally ambitious bank whose service delivery repeatedly falls short of its marketing. Customers consistently report accounts blocked or frozen without explanation, closure requests that continue accruing fees, app lockouts that cut off access to funds, and promised callbacks that never arrive. A recurring bright spot is individual consultants who are praised by name for genuine, patient help.
What is Discovery Bank's biggest strength?
Discovery Bank's biggest strength, according to Hellopeter's AI analysis, is Staff & Branch Experience. Individual consultants such as Etshabelo, Sibongile, Elincia, Yazeed and Sabelo are repeatedly praised by name for patience and product knowledge. The Sandton store and airport lounge also draw occasional praise, though rude or dismissive agents feature heavily too.
What are the most common complaints about Discovery Bank?
The most common complaint about Discovery Bank, based on Hellopeter's AI analysis of recent customer reviews, is Account Access & Management. Customers describe accounts frozen for weeks, months, even years with funds inaccessible and no explanation. Closure requests are repeatedly not actioned while fees and interest keep accruing, and FICA or proof of address submissions loop endlessly.
How does Discovery Bank compare to other Banking companies?
Discovery Bank scores 1.2 out of 5 on Hellopeter's AI analysis of service quality in Banking, compared to the Banking industry average of 1.3. Their strongest theme is Branch Experience (2.1); their weakest is Customer Service (0.9). The top AI-rated Banking business on Hellopeter is GoTyme Bank | Formerly TymeBank (3.1). How is the AI Score calculated? →
Is Discovery Bank trustworthy?
Discovery Bank has a TrustIndex of 3.3 out of 10 on Hellopeter, based on 916 reviews in the last 12 months. They reply to 95% of negative reviews, typically within 5 hours 12 min. Hellopeter has tracked Discovery Bank across 7,571 total reviews. How is the TrustIndex calculated? →
Recent reviews (916)
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Share Your Experience1 reviews | Active since Apr 2023
No customer service
I opened a ***** case with discovery 2 weeks ago.I was asked to go to the police a submit an affidavit to discovery.I *** the required documents and called to follow up . They tried calling me I am at work and unavailable during the week to take calls I called them and asked to get an *** and they cannot *** me.Whenever I ask to speak to a manager they say the managers are unavailable.What disappointing service is this?If the customer is unavailable do you not accommodate the customer or should I accommodate you?I will take this to the banking ombudsman.
1 reviews | Active since Apr 2023
No customer service
I opened a ***** case with discovery 2 weeks ago.I was asked to go to the police a submit an affidavit to discovery.I *** the required documents and called to follow up . They tried calling me I am at work and unavailable during the week to take calls I called them and asked to get an *** and they cannot *** me.Whenever I ask to speak to a manager they say the managers are unavailable.What disappointing service is this?If the customer is unavailable do you not accommodate the customer or should I accommodate you?I will take this to the banking ombudsman.
1 reviews | Active since Jul 2026
Discovery Bank, Please Give Me One Last Chance to Reopen My Account
Dear Discovery Bank, I sincerely apologise for what happened and kindly ask you to please reconsider your decision to close my account. I understand that there were concerns, and I am sorry for the situation. I am a university student, and this account is very important to me. My family uses it to send me money for groceries and other basic needs while I am studying. Losing access to this account has made things difficult for me. I kindly ask Discovery Bank to please give me one last chance to register and use my account again. I am willing to cooperate fully and provide any additional documents or information required. Please forgive me and reconsider my request. I genuinely value Discovery Bank and hope you will give me another opportunity. I would really appreciate your understanding and a positive response. Kind regards, Fanelo Ivin Mathebula
1 reviews | Active since Jul 2026
Discovery Bank, Please Give Me One Last Chance to Reopen My Account
Dear Discovery Bank, I sincerely apologise for what happened and kindly ask you to please reconsider your decision to close my account. I understand that there were concerns, and I am sorry for the situation. I am a university student, and this account is very important to me. My family uses it to send me money for groceries and other basic needs while I am studying. Losing access to this account has made things difficult for me. I kindly ask Discovery Bank to please give me one last chance to register and use my account again. I am willing to cooperate fully and provide any additional documents or information required. Please forgive me and reconsider my request. I genuinely value Discovery Bank and hope you will give me another opportunity. I would really appreciate your understanding and a positive response. Kind regards, Fanelo Ivin Mathebula
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2021
No Response from Discovery Bank
On 2 October 2026 I made three Sunbet payments of R1,000 each with Apple Pay on my Discovery Bank account. All three were debited and posted on 4 October. Sunbet has confirmed that they only received two of them, so R1,000 is missing. I asked Discovery for proof of the transactions and for the missing R1,000 to be sorted out: 5 October: phoned, call reference *** October: second request, no reference number given 17 October: third request in writing, and again in the Discovery AI chat Each time I was told the request was escalated and the team was generating proof. As of 23 October, 21 days after the payments, I have received no proof, no reference number, no named person and no date for a refund. I lodged a formal complaint by email on 17 October 2026 at 06:47. It is now 23 October 2026 and I have received no acknowledgement, no complaint reference number and no response. Worse banking I have experienced.
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2021
No Response from Discovery Bank
On 2 October 2026 I made three Sunbet payments of R1,000 each with Apple Pay on my Discovery Bank account. All three were debited and posted on 4 October. Sunbet has confirmed that they only received two of them, so R1,000 is missing. I asked Discovery for proof of the transactions and for the missing R1,000 to be sorted out: 5 October: phoned, call reference *** October: second request, no reference number given 17 October: third request in writing, and again in the Discovery AI chat Each time I was told the request was escalated and the team was generating proof. As of 23 October, 21 days after the payments, I have received no proof, no reference number, no named person and no date for a refund. I lodged a formal complaint by email on 17 October 2026 at 06:47. It is now 23 October 2026 and I have received no acknowledgement, no complaint reference number and no response. Worse banking I have experienced.
1 reviews | Active since Nov 2023
Poor service and lock of assistance
I was charged R210 for a replacement card which the consultant instead of reversing the request cancelled when I mistakenly ordered a replacement card thinking I had lost my original card. Apparently I now don't get the replacement card, my initial card is blocked and they took my R210. This poor excuse of a bank will not see my bank with them any longer.
1 reviews | Active since Nov 2023
Poor service and lock of assistance
I was charged R210 for a replacement card which the consultant instead of reversing the request cancelled when I mistakenly ordered a replacement card thinking I had lost my original card. Apparently I now don't get the replacement card, my initial card is blocked and they took my R210. This poor excuse of a bank will not see my bank with them any longer.
1 reviews | Active since Oct 2017
*** not marked Inactive
All I wanted is to reactivate an *** that I have never used and move to Discovery bank . I opened an *** when Discovery bank was launched and have never used it nor transacted in the said *** since it was opened in 2019..Now I'm ready to move from my current bank to Discovery only to be told "my *** is not in good standing "..but how since I have never used it..why is it not marked inactive after so many years of not being used. Now I have to pay "fees" before using this *** .. I give up..
1 reviews | Active since Oct 2017
*** not marked Inactive
All I wanted is to reactivate an *** that I have never used and move to Discovery bank . I opened an *** when Discovery bank was launched and have never used it nor transacted in the said *** since it was opened in 2019..Now I'm ready to move from my current bank to Discovery only to be told "my *** is not in good standing "..but how since I have never used it..why is it not marked inactive after so many years of not being used. Now I have to pay "fees" before using this *** .. I give up..
1 reviews | Active since Jul 2023
Misinformed my Bank
Im Lelethu Bottoman *** I was called by one of you agents regarding a credit card that I qualify for The agent was not clear to me at the time of how this credit works,I only saw and realized when I downloaded the app and few days after I canceled it on the app Now im getting calls regarding money that I owe amounting to R1500.17 I told the agents that I was misinformed and I didn't even get a card from you guys or used your services I can not pay for service that I didn't use and I was misinformed by the guy who opened the account for me,He was wrong for doing that to me,Now my credit profile is bad because of him I can't be held accountable for someone that **** to me I need you guys to help me close this account thats on my name and I won't be able to afford that R1500.17 for services that I didn't use I called and spoke to Anna Mazibuko with Reference *** My Account is *** Lelethu Bottoman *** Cellphone *** Thank you
1 reviews | Active since Jul 2023
Misinformed my Bank
Im Lelethu Bottoman *** I was called by one of you agents regarding a credit card that I qualify for The agent was not clear to me at the time of how this credit works,I only saw and realized when I downloaded the app and few days after I canceled it on the app Now im getting calls regarding money that I owe amounting to R1500.17 I told the agents that I was misinformed and I didn't even get a card from you guys or used your services I can not pay for service that I didn't use and I was misinformed by the guy who opened the account for me,He was wrong for doing that to me,Now my credit profile is bad because of him I can't be held accountable for someone that **** to me I need you guys to help me close this account thats on my name and I won't be able to afford that R1500.17 for services that I didn't use I called and spoke to Anna Mazibuko with Reference *** My Account is *** Lelethu Bottoman *** Cellphone *** Thank you
1 reviews | Active since Oct 2018
Pathetic automated decline system
If I could I would rate this company 0 stars. Decided to try discovery bank. Need to upgrade my account to their minimum gold suite with a credit card. I want to use this to pay for fuel and my living expenses. I am a private client at ABSA. I have more than enough money in my account to afford this. But according to discovery no. They keep on declining me. I have sent bank statements etc showing that I have more than enough money. Someone phoned me and continuously said that the system says I don't qualify. After explaining and explaining again and again. So yeah, ***** this company. Moving everything over to a company that wants my business.
1 reviews | Active since Oct 2018
Pathetic automated decline system
If I could I would rate this company 0 stars. Decided to try discovery bank. Need to upgrade my account to their minimum gold suite with a credit card. I want to use this to pay for fuel and my living expenses. I am a private client at ABSA. I have more than enough money in my account to afford this. But according to discovery no. They keep on declining me. I have sent bank statements etc showing that I have more than enough money. Someone phoned me and continuously said that the system says I don't qualify. After explaining and explaining again and again. So yeah, ***** this company. Moving everything over to a company that wants my business.