Bank SA Reviews 3

One because I couldn't click on none.
I am retired and recently when I had a large injection of money go into my account some staff (in managing positions) decided to make it their mission to take that money off me, and boy did they try hard. BankSA have on their website 5 core values. The first letters taken from each one spell HELPS. H for Helpful (towards each other striving to achieve a common goal. That is to rip you off) E is for Ethical (now that's included for their own humour) L is for Leading Change ( well that's the first and only truth I've heard this bank speak. Leading change into the depths of depravity) P is for Performable (oh yes, they will try hard to do the job on you) and last but not least is S. S they say is not for Snake, but rather Simple (because they think every one is as simple as they are).
If you like your money then run! Run as far as you can, away from Bank SA!

BankSA suspended my account and have not told me why. the manager at Noarlunga changed my password and security pin and refused to tell me what they now are. They won't identify me on the phone and never do what they say they're going to do. The customer Advocate is uncontactable and no one at the bank will fix the problem. The illegal actions of the bank need to be looked at by an authoritative body however I am told the financial institutions are privately owned now. The manager at Noarlunga told me they can do anything they want and it seems she's right. Whatever you do don't trust your money in the hands of this financial institution. It's the worst decision of my life.

Joining BankSA was the worst banking mistake of my life.

I just wanted an extra backup account, whilst I was working overseas. I ordered the two Worldwide Wallet cash cards, but the bank couldn't get them activated. Yes, they are bafflingly illogical. Eventually, I got the system up and running myself, but when I landed in Florida, they wouldn't work. At least, not in the usual sense. For example, at Walmart, it typically took around ten attempts to pay at the cashier - getting declined time and time again, until finally going through. In the US, it is usual to state whether your card is a credit or debit card before processing. The Worldwide Wallet cards showed up as either one - depending on where it was presented. I have no idea if that has had credit card fees associated with it. It was even worse at fuel stations, where you typically have to pre-pay an amount before filling. I never got that to work at all. I always had to pay in cash at the till beforehand.

I emailed the bank many times about these issues, but was always forced to call in the middle of the night - which hardly ever worked - even if I could get through the multiple irrelevant keypad options. Typically, the call would be terminated, when I went down a dead end option, or was put on hold and got cut off. Over the 18 months I have had the misfortune to hold the account, I have only managed to speak to a person twice.

Five months ago, I travelled back to SA and made the second worst banking decision of my life. I didn't close the account. I went into the branch I opened the account at and pointed out that I was having large amounts deducted from my account, without any logical reason. The staff agreed and said they would deal with it - but it is still going on.

I am now working in the UK and I tried to get a comprehensive account statement to sort out the many discrepancies, (the app version is useless), and in attempting to activate or reactivate my internet banking, got blocked from everything - online, the app and all my cards.

I emailed the bank manager repeatedly, to try to sort things out, but they just say over and over that the only way is to call their Australian number, which, as stated, is unreliable and doesn't give any clear option to speak to a person, which is what is required. It then cuts out, when you run out of options. I asked if there is a direct number, but was told that that is the only one. I asked if they could call me, but was told that was not possible. So, I'm here in London, it's the middle of the night again, (because they only operate during Australian hours), and I am without any working online banking or cards. My mobile phone and other utility accounts that rely on the useless BankSA are all frozen - and they seemingly have no sensible way of solving the immediate issues - let alone the many mystery deductions.

My best advice is, that if you have any other banking option - take it. Do not risk your time and money at BankSA. They will drive you up the wall and leave you in the lurch. It is the worst bank I have ever encountered.