************** and judgment by staff at Menlyn Branch

I visited the Standard Bank Menlyn Branch today around 12h30 midday (13/04/2024).

The consultant (black light skinned lady who was wearing all blue/navy, and Lecoq navy sneakers) who was assigned to me was rude and aggressive towards me.

I went to the branch to enquire about the Revolving Credit product after researching about it on the internet. I bank with a different bank. What I know is that we can enquire about credit products from all banks in SA.

I am going to outline all the rude and condescending things she said to me:

1. She questioned me why I am using Capitec Bank. And continue to insinuate that I am banking with a wrong bank if I intend to buy a house or a car. I was not there for car finance or for a home loan. This made really uncomfortable because I have a good relationship with my bank and have the right to choose which I bank with.

2. I asked her to give an estimate of how much interest will I get if I get a loan for R225K. She went on to say that it’s a lot of money to build a house (as I have shared that I need a loan to build my Mother’s house in KZN). She said R80K will do. Mind you, I have quotations from the hardware store so I know very well what my needs are. I believe she was racially profiling me, I guess someone black should build a 1 room and should not aspire for more and for comfort.

3. After reviewing my bank statement, she went on to scrutinize my every transaction and judging me about spending money on takeaways, Uber and airtime. In her own words, I buy a loooot of airtime. When I told her that she’s judgmental, she responded with saying that she’s giving me sound financial advice. I was there to enquire about a credit product not for advice on how to spend my hard earned money. I began building my credit profile in 2015, in all these years, I have never came across a consultant who treated me this way, and say nasty comments about the transactions on my bank statement. It is foul behavior coming from a person who deals with customers on the daily.

4. I gave her all the information on all my expenses and debts (I was 100 % honest). She went on to say that there is R12 000 unaccounted for and said that I waste money. Honestly, I was appalled. I have never encountered such a rude person in a financial institution before. I told her that I pay more on my current debt and also save and invest. She said it doesn’t matter because I don’t save the same amount every month so I am not consistent. It is really sad that I had to explain how I am saving and investing my money. She even went as far as asking me how much do I have right now in my savings. Which was irrelevant to the reason why I was at the branch.

5. Needless to say, my application was declined. I was told that I don’t qualify. Which is very surprising because I have a good credit score, and I try live below my means as it showed in my bank statement. I declined the request when she asked me to motivate for my application because I believe she already fiddled with it. Being declined by your bank stating that my affordability is the reason was shocking. So the surplus of R12K (which she calculated herself from my net salary) is not enough to pay off loan instalments.

I am not going to even start talking about the tone of voice I was addressed in. I am starting to believe the reviews on social media about the racial profiling of young black professionals by your bank. There’s absolutely no reason for your staff member to treat me like less than a human being. I should not have been let in, if you think I didn’t belong. I had gone to ABSA right opposite your branch before I approached your branch. I am not banking with ABSA yet I was treated with so much respect and dignity.

I am typing this with extreme grief, shame and disappointment. It is clear to me that I should’ve been banking with Standard Bank (and be born with a different skin colour) for me to treated like a decent human being in your institution. I kept laughing, thinking I was dreaming. Wow. What a shame.