FNB with no service@all for entrepreneurs

Hello Pieter, end 2019 I've opened a bank account with FNB, a business account. As a foreigner who has just registered a startup in SA it was beyond challenging. These days I need even a South African citizen who gets with me registered if i want to get a bank account. This practise is definitely not supporting new business ventures. Considering the SA investment conference in Johannesburg that is held these days it makes me wonder how all investor will need to have a South African partner to get a bank account to pay bills and receive payment.

In any case FNB registered my bank account and the partner that i could find supported the process. With the companies banking card i wanted to start my online banking after my pin for my app didn't work. After i pulled away the paper for the secret code nothing happened. The needed number didn't appear and I contacted FNB and the responsible clerk. The clerk wasn't working anymore at FNB, my emails didn't get anwsered and today after 1,5month i got my first email and I thought now we can work something out, finally. All infos in there have been that i should please contact my nearest branch in that manner, they couldn't help me otherwise. Currently my nearest branch is 11587km away. I told FNB that i'm overseas and would need their support. Unfortunately no word until today. I'm beyond disappointed by this bank who displayed to me the place to be as a startUp. Due to CV19 no income was been made and no money put in this account. However besides offering any help FNB keeps sending me tax statement requests that I have to fulfil. They see that no income is generate, i can't even pay my fees that are useless in times anyways when i can't access my bank account. So far it only costs me money each month and i am supposed to pay not only for 'zero' service but also have no access to my own account. This is tragic and choosing FNB in the first place seems to have been a significant mistake. For any startups or investors, if you want to do business in SA, give other banks a try, they might offer better support and assistants for entrepreneurs who want to create value.

Thanks Peter for giving me a platform and voice here, iz much appreciated. Best wishes, Guido