Standard Bank SA Reviews 

Subject: Urgent Complaint – Disgraceful Treatment of Elderly Clients

Dear Standard Bank,

I am writing to express my absolute disgust and disappointment at the way your call centre has treated my elderly parents, both of whom have been loyal Standard Bank clients for over 60 years.

Both of their accounts were suddenly blocked without any prior notice or explanation. When they called your call centre to find out why, they were transferred to the Fraud Department, who simply told them they would need to visit a branch — again, with no explanation whatsoever.

When I tried to assist, my elderly mother, understandably nervous, made a mistake during the security verification process. Despite the fact that a push notification was accepted, she was abruptly told to “try again in 24 hours” or “go to the branch.”

How exactly are they supposed to get to a branch when their accounts are blocked and they have no access to their money?

Your staff were rude, unhelpful, and showed no empathy or understanding of how distressing this situation is for elderly clients who already face daily challenges with scammers and fraudsters. To be treated this way by their own bank — the very institution they’ve trusted for decades — is beyond unacceptable.

This is a disgraceful way to treat elderly customers who have supported your bank for more than half a century.

Dear CEO of Standard Bank,

I’m addressing this directly to you because your bank’s system failures, lack of transparency, and poor accountability have left me carrying the financial and emotional cost of something I didn’t do.

I hold a credit card with a fixed limit — and your own team confirmed in writing that it’s not possible to exceed it. I’ve always ensured a balance remains, so going over has never been an option. Yet despite this, Standard Bank listed me on Experian as “over limit,” damaging my credit record and setting back my future plans.

Instead of taking responsibility, I’ve been pushed from department to department, met with silence, no answers, no callbacks — just automated emails and copy-paste HelloPeter responses that solve nothing.

Even worse, I was never informed upfront that extra charges would be added after the installment was accepted. That’s critical information that affects a client’s credit health, and it was never disclosed.

This is not an isolated case. I’ve spoken to many people who’ve faced the same issues after banking with Standard Bank — good clients with clean credit profiles ending up listed, flagged, and financially strained because of your bank’s internal errors and lack of product knowledge. Some have even lost their businesses.

This isn’t just an error. It’s:
– A false listing causing reputational harm.
– A failure to disclose key product terms.
– A service and system breakdown.
– A breach of trust between bank and client.

I’m calling on YOU, as the head of Standard Bank, to answer this publicly:
Who will take responsibility?
Who will fix this?
How many more clients need to be financially ruined before this is taken seriously?

This is not about a small error. This is about accountability.

Standard Bank Sterkspruit was disappointing recently when I walked in and asked the people who where there how long they have been there and they complained more than 2 hours.
Worried that I had errands to run and a baby with me. I simply asked one of the staff members how long it takes to assist a person so I can be able to complain after the standard time duration of assistance.

The man simply told me that they where short staffed and if I don't like it there I should bank else where.
This incident happened on 07/10/2025,I told the manager but he took it lightly and said he will talk to the employee.
No apologies just that statement.

I hope standard bank could check its brach at Sterkspruit and maybe give the emplyees some courses on customer service and people skills.
Simply asking a question does not mean we think you are stupid and you can't do your job.
I asked calmly and respectfully and the reply was rude and full of frustration.
Please improve

Received a call from a law firm, informing us that standardbank has handed over our home loan account because we are in arrears. When we tell them we have never been notified of these arrears, the last time we were at Standarbank was in July 2025, no arrears were mentioned during a call with the home loan department. We then visit the branch to speak to the home loan department to verify this call. To our suprise, we are told we've been in arrears from October 2024, they only managed to get a hold of us a year later in October 2025 to inform us that infact we've accumulated over R19,000 in arrears over 12 months. We then ask how come we were not informed of this even though we make payments every month, never missed a payment.How come they couldn't get a hold of us. How come this wasn't mentioned in July 2025 on our last visit to negotiate interest rates. The only response we received was that we can make arrangements to pay off the arrears, they've got options for us to pay off these arrears or sell. We didn't agree to anything. SOUTH AFRICA PLEASE HELP US.How can Standard Bank hand our account to their collections department without attempting to inform/notify us in postal letters, sms text that you're arrears. Please help us. We are an elderly couple on pension. We do not know where to seek help as we are not well informed when it comes to the law and our rights in this situation.Your advice and guidence will be very much appreciated

I am utterly disappointed with the service we’ve received from Standard Bank regarding my father’s home loan. What should have been a simple process has dragged on for over a year, filled with constant back-and-forth emails, repeated requests for the same documents, and zero accountability from anyone on the team.

Every time we think the issue is finally being resolved, we’re passed on to a new consultant who seems completely unaware of the case history. We’ve had to requests and queries multiple times — yet there’s still no progress. The lack of communication and ownership is beyond frustrating.

It’s shocking that such a large institution can operate with so little regard for its customers’ time and stress. After more than a year of chasing, explaining, and waiting, we still don’t have closure. This experience has completely eroded our trust in Standard Bank and I would caution anyone considering taking a home loan with them to think twice.

Their home loans department seems to be operating without expertise and it scares me this may be happening to so many more people unaware. My dads home loan term was changed (added 10 years) without his knowledge or consent and they have messed up the term additional based on the agreements signed. I fear this may be happening to sooo many more people.

Absolutely unacceptable service.

Absolutely pathetic service please do yourself a favour and do not bank with standard bank

Im currently in the process of closing all my accounts

I was assisted by Ethelene, she was very helpful and quick to resolve of my issues. She deserves 5star. I am impressed and I definitely recommend this standard bank in York Street George CBD

After dealing with 3 consultants and my business account manager, I am still waiting for my account to be closed 1 MONTH LATER.

My account manager says the matter is being treated with urgency, however it seems Standard Bank's definition of urgency for business clients' is waiting more than 1 month.

I would strongly caution anyone business person from using Standard Bank's services unless, they have time to spend on numerous calls verifying themselves for 15 minutes each time and getting nowhere. Or having to go to the bank each time something important has to be done, as we did in the 1990s.

Most flawed system ever! You cannot call and update a single thing on a home loan! You have to go into a branch?? Oh wait you can do it through the app but only if you have a bank account? Really? So useless. This is seriously not moving with the times. Its better to rather be with a bank that is living in this century,

I will never ever in my life use that bank. It was my first and last time. I opened an account on the 8th of September, I received my first ever salary after a long time. Immediately when I wanted to access my app, I couldn't. I went to the bank, only to find that my account was blocked. I wasn't called or asked anything by Standard, I had to use my money and waste my time to go to the branch where I wasn't assisted. They only just gave me a number of the fraud department and I was taken to one agent to another the whole day.
I wouldn't advice anyone to use standard bank. I need my money that's it

We have been attempting to gain access to our bank account (held in a Trust account at the Standard Bank). Our Executor has been wholly frustrated/fobbed off with incompetence of the Standard Bank regional management and complaints process. This bank is incompetent and I would strongly recommend investors to think again before using the Standard bank.

Standard bank is a scam especially because of the hidden fees which they don't talk about. Whenever you take time to visit the branch especially for help they leave out important information as if they are benefiting off you

Wish I could give Standard Bank a minus . The glen brunch is worse , their tellers are rude and do not greet . Especially Simone Watson . Very rude I do not recommend her at all .

I WISH I COULD GIVE THIS BANK A MINUS STAR TO RATE HIS EXPERIENCE.
Standard Bank - South Africa Standard Bank Group
your incompetence is astonishing!
you do not reply to any form of communication, you do not have a contact number I can call, "only use email", and then I'm sent in this endless loop of uselessness!
Honestly I'm amazed that you still have clients with this utterly non existent service.
Give me a contact of someone senior who I can speak to with regards to bonds, Companies - I am told none in PE can help. If I do not get help I will take to airing this on radio, social media and any platform I can find!

Excellent service with Yolanda Shiba at Kenilworth Centre

Thank you pheladi maruatona for the best service

It took them 3+ months to have my non-res account open, although I provided all the required documents just in time. But even after that, once I made a trial deposit of 5000 rand, they kept requesting me evidence of the source of funds via three different points of contact, requiring more and more documentation. And as an apotheosis, you are not allowed to have control over your funds via Internet/Mobile Banking, despite the said on the website -- they require all the operations to be carried out via email. Complete disappointment of the non-profesionalism of the bank's employees. I do not recommend this bank for investment.

Thank you pheladi maruatona for always giving us the best service.

Do not go into a Standard Bank branch. They play a certain piece of music OVER AND OVER until you go crazy. Literally all day long. It's unbearable being in there for more than 5 minutes.