Urgent intervention

The service that is delaying and costing me to forfeit the offer, they are not meeting the deadline of the application Hello Peter

I am writing to seek your urgent intervention regarding the continued delays and challenges I have experienced with Standard Bank in relation to my business loan application.

On 6 July 2026, while following up with my banker, I was informed that he had been promoted and relocated to Johannesburg. I immediately requested a meeting with a senior manager to ensure that a suitable banker could be appointed to take over my portfolio and, more importantly, to prevent further delays to my application.

At the same time, I had an active application for a business loan, which I had already been pursuing for some time. Due to the delays experienced, I unfortunately had to forfeit a previous offer. A senior manager subsequently took the application upon herself to assist me, and I sincerely appreciated her intervention. However, despite this, I have continued to struggle to obtain approval since July.

I have a longstanding relationship with Standard Bank. I am a Prestige client, I have two properties and vehicles, I maintain savings with the bank, and my family also banks with Standard Bank. I have entrusted a significant portion of my financial affairs to the bank, and I have always regarded Standard Bank as a trusted financial partner. It is therefore extremely disappointing and frustrating to experience such prolonged delays when I am trying to grow my business.

There have also been several administrative inconsistencies during the process. For example, there have been instances where my address details were confused, a valuer was requested but the outcome was subsequently not accepted because of a minor issue relating to back rooms that have not yet been approved by the municipality. This is particularly concerning given that the property is already insured by Standard Bank.

In an effort to demonstrate my commitment and to address any concerns regarding the financial sustainability of the business, I went a step further last Friday and used more than R200,000 of my personal funds to settle our outstanding debts. I have also submitted my financial projections to the bank to demonstrate that the business has a viable and sustainable model.

The business I am establishing is a high-end English-medium preschool, with a strong focus on quality education and highly qualified teachers. The financial projections clearly demonstrate that this is a sustainable business venture and that the preschool will generate sufficient income to support itself. I am not expecting the business to operate on credit indefinitely; rather, I am seeking financing to establish a viable business that will ultimately sustain itself.

Unfortunately, the continued delays are now placing me in an extremely difficult position. I have an offer that is at risk of expiring, and I am concerned that I may lose yet another opportunity solely because of delays in the banking process.

I respectfully request your urgent intervention to ensure that my application is given the necessary attention and that a clear decision is reached as soon as possible.

I fully understand that the bank must conduct the necessary assessments and follow its internal credit processes. However, I believe that the client’s contractual deadlines and the consequences of delays should also be taken into consideration. The continued delays are causing me significant financial loss, frustration and uncer*****y, despite my cooperation and continued efforts to provide everything requested by the bank.

I sincerely hope that you can assist in resolving this matter urgently and prevent me from losing another opportunity because of circumstances beyond my control.

Thank you for your attention and anticipated assistance.

Kind regards,

Audrey Ernst