FNB: Failing SMMEs in the Name of 'Support

Yet again, I've encountered another blow from FNB, further proving how the bank fails to live up to its claims of supporting small, micro, and medium enterprises (SMMEs). On September 25, 2024, my business account was frozen without my knowledge or consent. Three payments totaling R37,000 were made into my account, yet FNB decided to block access to these funds—without giving me the opportunity to explain the transactions.

To make matters worse, the investigating officer responsible for handling the case has been completely unreachable. How is this fair? Is this what FNB means when they say they "support" SMMEs? Where is the promised assistance when SMMEs are constantly being tied up in unnecessary red tape?

We, as small business owners, already face enough challenges—finding customers, securing payments, and keeping our operations afloat. Now, we also have to fight for access to our own money because of an opaque system that punishes us instead of supporting us. This kind of treatment from a financial institution like FNB, which claims to empower small businesses, is not just frustrating; it's outright unjust.

How can we expect to grow our businesses when even our banking partners are actively working against us?