FMB Bad for New Business

<p>Hi</p> <p> </p> <p>I opened my Business account and it was closed while I was still preparing for the business to run. In the period that the account was running, I had money deposited, which means FNB was getting paid for hosting an account for the amount of money that was debited from my account. Not for free.</p> <p>Now I am faced with a situation, I need to buy the products that I would be dealing with and for that I need to make the payments using my business account. FNB is asking me to go get proof of potential business before reopening my account, my potential business associates requires my bank account to legitimize my business with them. I am unable to get a letter from a potential customer because the potential customer would like to see the products, and I am unable to but the products because I would like to link my FNB account with PayPal before I can purchase the products, which are in India and USA.</p> <p>I am stuck between two entities who both require a proof from one each other before both can assist, and none is willing to assist. What do I do.</p> <p> </p> <p>I went to you MagaliesView Mall branch in Rustenburg. There was a lady walking around who asked me if she could help, I explained my situation to her and she said that she is unable to assist me but she would call a Business Bank manager to come and assist me. I then waited for about ten minutes or a little less for the manager, after a while I stood up asking around where is the manager because I waited for a while, eventually she came from the back and she told me to seat by a nearby desk and wait for her.</p> <p>Firstly, she looked irritated that someone had to pull her out at the back with no name tag or sign that she is a manager, except for an irritated frown, and before she can even hear my story, she asked me to hand her my supporting documents, I didn’t know how to respond so I asked her if she mind listening to my query first. She agreed and after explaining my situation and the fact the her employee said there’s nothing they can do and that she might be able to help, she responded by picking up her shoulders, fixed her mouth and said “There’s nothing I can do for you, there’s nothing I can advise you to do and you will have to get us proof, or there’s nothing we can do for you”. I tried pleading, explaining my situation over so that she understands, and she did the shoulder thing again. Her name was Jessica Ntumba, she wrote it down for me after asking it, she did not even have the decency to say it, she just wrote it down, handed me a yellow sticky note and said “that’s the name I use”</p> <p> </p> <p>Again, I am stuck in a situation where I need to purchase products to resell, I need a bank account to do so, the bank needs potential customer proof, and the potential customer needs to legitimize my business before opening up their door. And your Magalies View Manager said I must rather go to another bank. Since FNB is not for startups, I assume it is against the drive for entrepreneurship and the development of previously disadvantaged groups in South Africa.</p> <p> </p> <p>Where do I go, do I take you advice and go to another bank, or is there a manager who is allowed to use their discretion to use policy as a guideline rather than a rule that all must stick to. When the employee said I must wait for the manager, it was based on previous experience on exceptions done from a manager’s discretion, and not for me to hear the same No from a different source, or someone with higher powers.</p> <p> </p> <p>Regards</p> <p>Shawane Kekana</p> <p>***</p>