ARE SA BANKS GOING BONKERS ?!

Am I alone?! Does “FNB” now stand for “Fruit an’ Nut Bank” ?! It has a heart-warming slogan “How Can We Help You?” Here’s how - stop harassing me (and no doubt many others like me) with your endless emails threatening to “freeze” my account unless I immediately correct my “non-tax compliance” by completing a “Self Certification Form”. Being law-abiding and obliging I printed the document, completed and returned it about a month ago. The info required included my name, ID number, date and place of birth and nationality. Further, am I a South African Tax Payer and, if so, what’s my number. “Yes” was my answer and my tax number provided. Every question was fully answered and the document duly signed and returned - and acknowledged. But that’s where someone at FNB decides to have fun with me! Believe it or not I receive a follow-up response to the question of whether registered in SA for tax (“Yes” being my answer) and that I should “REMEDY” that answer! ( to What - “NO”?!). It gets worse ….they resend the form and highlight a section I ignore as irrelevant : “ Are you an American Citizen with tax liabilities to the IRS? If you are not then you must provide us proof of renunciation.” I paraphrase this but that’s the gist- I responded in robust language suggesting someone in this strange FNB office dubbed “CRS” is smoking something stronger than tobacco and since I’ve already answered every question possible other than what I have for breakfast I wish to be harassed no more. Their response is an endless stream of the same original enquiry - and I suggest any client similarly abused simply ignores this inanity. I for one cannot afford the wasted time or ink on any bank that can’t tell the difference between the words “yes” and “no”! But all banks appear to be going bonkers! There is another I have dealings with (Nedbank, since you ask) which has magnanimously reduced its 2022 Cash Deposit fees (for “seniors” who have at least R10,000 in fixed deposit ) from R82.20 PER R100 (!!!) by 50% !!! So if I deposit R100 cash in Nedbank this year it’ll actually be worth (umm….R100.00 - R41.10 ….. a whopping R59.90?!!) - and yet there are still people who think our banking system is sound ?! Sounds like ‘Undef the Mattress’ might offer a better return!