Discovery Bank - An administrative nightmare

I am writing this review to warn others about the so-called "benefits" of Discovery Bank and Vitality Travel. My experience has been nothing short of heartless and utterly unprofessional.

I had to cancel a return flight to Cape Town after my husband passed away four days before the scheduled departure. Safair’s policy in the event of a death is a 50% refund (which in my case would have been approximately R1,300). However, Discovery Bank only paid out R277 to me. Upon inquiry, they shamelessly admitted that they kept the difference as administration fees! The "discounted flights" they advertise are a farce when you consider the lack of service and hidden costs.

I have been trying to close my account since January 2026. Despite numerous requests in January, February and March, the process was intentionally delayed:

They requested my bank details for a credit balance refund, but because I didn't respond within 3 days, my emails with the details were simply ignored. The account was kept open against my will just so they could deduct another R600 in monthly banking fees before finally closing it

When I turned to Hellopeter in February, Discovery Bank posted a response claiming they had contacted me. I never received a call or any follow-up from them.

Discovery Bank is the worst institution I have ever dealt with. They lack compassion, their administrative processes are designed to exploit customers, and their customer service is dishonest. I would not recommend this bank to anyone.