(sum) 1 Account - no response when enquiring about opening this account.

Of there was a button for 'no stars at all', I would have selected that one! Roundabout 20 March 2022 I received an SMS from Standard Bank regarding a bank account for children under 16 years of age (it is called the (sum)1 Account).

I called the customer call center number that came with the SMS, but held on for so long, that I decided to send an email to my personal banker (25 March 2022) I received an out of office reply from her and the contact email address for the Prestige Banking customer call center. On 2 April 2022 I called again, held on for very long with no answer and then decided to drop Prestige Banking an email. I also selected the 'call back' option on the Standard Bank website and on the calls, but received no response. Resent an email on the same day after the call regarding my query to open this account. and received an email on the same day from Betty Mlambo at the voice branch saying that someone would contact me shortly.

On 6 April (after still no response) I again send an email to Prestige Banking. 10 April 2022 I was copied in on a mail from Michael van der Walt requesting my personal banker to assist me with the matter.

On 12 April I sent an email to my personal banker again (copying the email address of mr Van der Walt - SVC Voice Branch) and again received an out of office reply (which mr Van der Walt should also have received as he emailed her directly).

On the same day - 12 April 2022 - I resend an email to my personal banker, mr Van der Walt (SVC voice Branch) and *** requesting assistance and mentioning that my personal banker is still out of office.

On 13 April 2022 I AGAIN send a request as I have still not received any calls or emails from Standard Bank addressing my query. Up to today (21 April 2022) still no response.

How to make contact with Standard Bank after they've closed the majority of their branches, don't answer their phones and don't answer their emails either. I have been a client of this bank for 17 years - I have a cheque account with a positive balance, and investment, have had several bond accounts and have never ever had a debit order bounce. I guess this is not the type of client you want or need.

If there is anyone else who knows of an account which can be opened for children - please open it somewhere else. Standard Bank, I don't know what your standards are, but if this is it, I'm moving everything I have, regardless of how much effort it will be.