*****ulent transaction and lack of Assistance

I am writing to formally inform people regarding the treatment I have received from FNB after a *****ulent transaction took place on my business account.

A suspicious online transaction was processed from my account, despite the fact that I have never conducted online transactions for my business. The bank is now accusing me of providing an OTP (one-time pin), which I never requested. Instead of taking responsibility for what appears to be a failure in their security system, FNB has outright refused to refund the ****** amount or acknowledge any fault on their part.

I have always believed that banking with a well-established institution like FNB would provide me with protection and security, but my experience has proven otherwise. Frustrated with their response, I escalated the matter to the Banking Ombudsman, only to be met with further disappointment. The Ombudsman has sided with FNB, despite my insistence on receiving proof of their claims. It has now been over two weeks since I requested this proof, yet I have received no feedback or further communication.

The entire process—both with FNB and the Ombudsman—is painfully slow, taking weeks with no real resolution in sight. This has left me feeling completely unprotected and unsupported as a small business owner. I strongly urge fellow business owners to be cautious when banking with FNB and to consider alternative protective measures in the event of *****. It is evident that, should such an incident occur, both the bank and the Ombudsman will leave you to deal with the loss on your own.

I hope that by sharing my experience, other small business owners can take the necessary precautions to avoid a similar fate. I appreciate your platform in allowing customers to voice their concerns and would be grateful if you could highlight this issue to warn others.