GO
Gisele O
1 reviews | Active since Oct 2009
17 Mar 2026, 16:06
Bidvest Bank the worst bank
Bidvest has frozen my business banking account due to "FICA" requirements. Their system says its only due on 5 July 2027. I received no prior warning at all. Just freeze. As is perfectly normal for this pathetic bank. This is not the first time they have done it. I also cannot get a reference number from them to provide to the Banking Ombudsman as "We don't give out reference numbers for complaints, you can use my name"- says the call centre person. DO NOT have an account there, it is NOT safe.
Helpful (0)
Replies (4)0
Replies (4)Bidvest Bank's replyOfficial
18 Mar 2026, 08:15Hi there. Thank you.
We have escalated this & the Customer Service team will be in touch.
We apologise for the inconvenience once again.
Regards,
Bidvest Bank Team
Bidvest Bank's reply18 Mar 2026, 08:15
Official
Hi there. Thank you.
We have escalated this & the Customer Service team will be in touch.
We apologise for the inconvenience once again.
Regards,
Bidvest Bank Team
GO
Gisele O's updateReviewer Update
18 Mar 2026, 12:25Dear Bidvest, giving me your standard form response when my business has been crippled by your lack of fiscal integrity is exactly what I've come to expect from the caliber of Bidvest Bank employee I have had to deal with since 11 March
it is now after 12H15 and one of your "Customer Service Team" has yet to bother to communicate.
I have emailed the "Business Banker", your complaints department, your service experience escalations department and still no response from anyone. I guess when you earn a salary for sitting around not servicing customers there is no sense of urgency.
As an aside I have raised the issue with the Financial regulator and will continue every escalation in my power to make sure that Bidvest does not do this to other customers. You are in breach of BASA, FICA and FAIS regulations and judging by the paperwork you did eventually indicate you wanted AFTER freezing a legitimate business account I am led to believe that you are actually also in breach of the POPIA regulations since paperwork for only 1 director is required when you have been sent the paperwork for ALL the directors, thus showing that you are not securely storing personal information.
Yes I know the law and your bank is in breach of a lot of them. I hope the regulator fines you enough that you stop this ********* and frankly disastrous practice of freezing accounts with zero notification to customers who are not only legally registered to trade, fully compliant with Government regulations and the South African Revenue Service but have also been customers in good standing for over 10 years.
Rest assured once my funds have been released you will no longer have my business.
it is now after 12H15 and one of your "Customer Service Team" has yet to bother to communicate.
I have emailed the "Business Banker", your complaints department, your service experience escalations department and still no response from anyone. I guess when you earn a salary for sitting around not servicing customers there is no sense of urgency.
As an aside I have raised the issue with the Financial regulator and will continue every escalation in my power to make sure that Bidvest does not do this to other customers. You are in breach of BASA, FICA and FAIS regulations and judging by the paperwork you did eventually indicate you wanted AFTER freezing a legitimate business account I am led to believe that you are actually also in breach of the POPIA regulations since paperwork for only 1 director is required when you have been sent the paperwork for ALL the directors, thus showing that you are not securely storing personal information.
Yes I know the law and your bank is in breach of a lot of them. I hope the regulator fines you enough that you stop this ********* and frankly disastrous practice of freezing accounts with zero notification to customers who are not only legally registered to trade, fully compliant with Government regulations and the South African Revenue Service but have also been customers in good standing for over 10 years.
Rest assured once my funds have been released you will no longer have my business.
GO
Gisele O's update18 Mar 2026, 12:25
Reviewer Update
Dear Bidvest, giving me your standard form response when my business has been crippled by your lack of fiscal integrity is exactly what I've come to expect from the caliber of Bidvest Bank employee I have had to deal with since 11 March
it is now after 12H15 and one of your "Customer Service Team" has yet to bother to communicate.
I have emailed the "Business Banker", your complaints department, your service experience escalations department and still no response from anyone. I guess when you earn a salary for sitting around not servicing customers there is no sense of urgency.
As an aside I have raised the issue with the Financial regulator and will continue every escalation in my power to make sure that Bidvest does not do this to other customers. You are in breach of BASA, FICA and FAIS regulations and judging by the paperwork you did eventually indicate you wanted AFTER freezing a legitimate business account I am led to believe that you are actually also in breach of the POPIA regulations since paperwork for only 1 director is required when you have been sent the paperwork for ALL the directors, thus showing that you are not securely storing personal information.
Yes I know the law and your bank is in breach of a lot of them. I hope the regulator fines you enough that you stop this ********* and frankly disastrous practice of freezing accounts with zero notification to customers who are not only legally registered to trade, fully compliant with Government regulations and the South African Revenue Service but have also been customers in good standing for over 10 years.
Rest assured once my funds have been released you will no longer have my business.
it is now after 12H15 and one of your "Customer Service Team" has yet to bother to communicate.
I have emailed the "Business Banker", your complaints department, your service experience escalations department and still no response from anyone. I guess when you earn a salary for sitting around not servicing customers there is no sense of urgency.
As an aside I have raised the issue with the Financial regulator and will continue every escalation in my power to make sure that Bidvest does not do this to other customers. You are in breach of BASA, FICA and FAIS regulations and judging by the paperwork you did eventually indicate you wanted AFTER freezing a legitimate business account I am led to believe that you are actually also in breach of the POPIA regulations since paperwork for only 1 director is required when you have been sent the paperwork for ALL the directors, thus showing that you are not securely storing personal information.
Yes I know the law and your bank is in breach of a lot of them. I hope the regulator fines you enough that you stop this ********* and frankly disastrous practice of freezing accounts with zero notification to customers who are not only legally registered to trade, fully compliant with Government regulations and the South African Revenue Service but have also been customers in good standing for over 10 years.
Rest assured once my funds have been released you will no longer have my business.
GO
Gisele O's updateReviewer Update
18 Mar 2026, 12:30The fact that the word "*********" has been censored is revealing too. No I did not use any profanity
GO
Gisele O's update18 Mar 2026, 12:30
Reviewer Update
The fact that the word "*********" has been censored is revealing too. No I did not use any profanity
GO
Gisele O's updateReviewer Update
09 Apr 2026, 15:50And STILL I have no access to the account and your so called "Customer Service Team" hasn't contacted me.
I have had no access to company funds for nearly 30 days. What is wrong with you?????
I have had no access to company funds for nearly 30 days. What is wrong with you?????
GO
Gisele O's update09 Apr 2026, 15:50
Reviewer Update
And STILL I have no access to the account and your so called "Customer Service Team" hasn't contacted me.
I have had no access to company funds for nearly 30 days. What is wrong with you?????
I have had no access to company funds for nearly 30 days. What is wrong with you?????
