********* Business Conduct by Standard Bank

Standard Bank has caused my family a lot of pain and suffering, since my mother's passing. It has been exactly a year now and her Estate has not been finalized. My mother had a Will with standard bank and subsequently appointed as the Executor.

Standard Bank only gave us the Will, a month after her funeral and that was the beginning of the pain. My late mother had stated in that Will that she wishes to be buried in Mdantsane and we already buried her in Queenstown( where she was born/Home). We overlooked that at the time, thinking that her Estate would quickly be finalized so that we would be able to have a traditional ceremony in dealing with that matter. The Will itself appoints Standard bank as an Executor , and that has caused a lot of problems with the Municipality(BCMM) because the letter of Executor has someone else's name (Standard Bank) and the Municipality is unable to assist me to lower the Rates or write them off. I am unemployed and survive on a disability grant .I have struggled to buy electricity and pay the Rates(of the deceased). The latest feedback from Standard Bank indicates that there's going to be a Shortfall on the Estate and we still have to pay Executors fees. I take it as though this is how Standard Bank treats its customers, offering Financial Advice, Bank Accounts, Credit Card, Investments and a Will BUT fail to offer Insurance. It is shocking that Standard bank would not offer my mother insurance for her credit card and a life cover as part of the financial advice. Standard Bank gets to benefit from the Executors fees and have also claimed for the credit card against my mother's Estate.

Standard bank is the only institution that has claimed(for the credit card) against my mother's Estate, causing the shortfall and that makes me wonder how the Financial advice was conducted. It looks as though the financial advice was for Standard Bank to benefit on Executor's fees and Shortfall rather than addressing my mother's financial needs. As part of the Financial Advice the Bank should have record of the products offered to my mother and her accepting or declining the product(Insurance), I would love to see the offer that was made and her declining that offer. My mother was 76 years old, there were No disputes on the Estate or anything that warrants any delays. Standard Bank has taken just more that a year in finalizing the Estate, still in progress even now. I will never recommend Standard Bank Trust to anyone because the pain of losing my mother , has just dragged for longer, due to this Estate Late process My mother was a loyal customer of Standard Bank, spoke highly of the bank's products and services BUT after her passing, my family has experienced heartache , family feuds and financial difficulties. She trusted Standard Bank with her life and the fact that had a Will with Standard Bank, confirms that.