Standard Bank SA Reviews 

My experience felt very sales-driven. After signing agreements for things like loans and payment plans, communication became more difficult. When I later needed support, responses were slow and assistance was limited, regardless of how long I had been a client.

I wish to call out the excellent Fraud department service. Let me regail you with with my hours long experience. Last night I logged into my Phone App - checked everything - all is fine. Lunch time the next day I try to log on to pay a bill and it says the service is unavailable. Shortly after this - minutes - my phone rings - person from Std Bank fraud department. He said that there were attempted transactions being made in Durban from my Access/Checking account. (Afterwards I learned this is DIGITAL FRAUD - and is dependent on inside information. So from my understanding, this is how it worked: Nameless person in Durban downloads the STD Bank app on their phone - creates a profile with THEIR personal information and then (a bit vague on exact details here), my account is linked to their profile. Now my Check account exists with TWO profiles. But I cannot see any of the transactions that they do when I log on to my profile. Assistance from agent: (and again, stress levels through the roof, I will recall as carefully as I can). He suggests I need to remove all my funds from my existing accounts - checking, savings and credit card - into my main account which is the checking account. The process he is following is to safeguard my money - remove it from Standard Bank - so he says to add a beneficiary called MN at Capitec and to proceed to transfer ALL my funds to Capitec. At this point I am VERY uncomfortable. I am receiving Fraud warning messages on my cell phone as I am working with the Fraud agent. My accounts become inaccessible before I can transfer money. So agent says I need to go to bank and have them unlock my accounts without telling them that it is for security reasons based on suspicion of Fraud because they suspect the information was released an employee from the branch itself. WHO CAN YOU TRUST? There is urgency, there is the don't tell anyone what's going on, etc. So I went to the bank, but called the Fraud department from there and had them check my profile - they only saw one profile with the money as I had most recently moved it to the checking account. I had them lock that profile as well. So now I will be at the bank at 9am to create a new profile and continue with the saga. I was just very sorry that I did not think of transferring the money to one of family member's accounts. Then it is out but still accessible by me. So was this a scam or a legitimate follow-up by Standard Bank Fraud to help me avoid losing my money?

THis is not a legitimate bank, is a scam company disguised as a bank

This 1 star reflects a serious issue regarding overseas funds sent to a Standard Bank account on 8 December 2025. As of 6 January 2026, the funds have still not been located or credited, despite multiple follow-ups.

The lack of urgency and progress from client services is extremely concerning. These funds are essential for my mother’s basic living needs, including medical aid payments, water and electricity accounts, and food. Due to this ongoing delay, she is now experiencing financial distress and stress.

Given the length of time that has passed - nearly a full month - this matter should have been resolved or, at the very least, clearly explained. To date, there has been no satisfactory update, timeline, or indication of priority handling.

Standard bank is the Worst bank, they're really just a money scamming organisation.

The treatment they gave me is of poor services. They are like exstochinist. They took money R460 every month for the past three years from my account for private banking facilities which one of its benefits is that of a private banker. I never received that treatment. I wrote a complaint to CEO of Standard Bank to complaint that I am not getting a service that I am paying. All these was in vain. I canselled private banking facilities and deduction to my surprise they deduct on the 31 Dec of which has never happened. I am tired of this bank and it should not be called Standard Bank because is cheating people like my self who is now on pension.

Impeccable Service @ Standard Bank Stellenbosch.... Credit to Miss Marlene Daniels... You really have an absolute Gem on your hands...

Horrific experiences. Nothing is solved. Account still blocked. They expect my disabled 80 year father to walk to the nearest branch. They don't care about humans, only their policies. Their policies doesn't include the elderly and disabled, doesn't care my elderly mom is in pain and sat for 2 hours, for them not to help her. The stupid digime doesn't work, as they say it would, forcing us to have to go back.

DON'T use standard bank if you want to use your money when you are old and need assistance! Their policies are written for young and healthy people only!

Absolutely Disgusted in Standard Bank Connect's service and after sales. Placed an order for a device on the 21st of November, received a message that it will be delivered in 48-72 hours. Needles to say, we are still waiting without answers. Contacted them a few times and all they can say is that there is no stock. No further communication was received from them than the day day of the order where they sent a message saying that device will be delivered in the 72hours. Calls take forever to go through and it also seems like they block the contact number where you phone from and phoned from on previous occasions where queries were logged. Why advertise a device knowing there is no stock available and also not knowing or being able to advise when there will be stock.

Call centre takes ages to answer. Always receive high call volume. Image using airtime.

I am so disappointed with the way Standard Bank has been treating me and my money. Yesterday I woke to my whole November salary gone to a virtual card I know nothing about. All my money is gone and no one can tell me where it is. Standard Bank is charging me huge amounts on banking fees but now I find myself regretting banking with you. This is a second fraud case in 6 months, I never got a response from Standard Bank regarding a fraud case in June up until now when I had thousands of rands missing that my case was never escalated. I waited for a bank card for weeks until I decided to go to a bank for a new one which was my biggest mistake because I should have closed my account immediately since Standard Bank is so negligent when it comes to handling my money. Where is my money? I need answers

Sea point branch are possibly the most incompetent staff I have yet to interact with.
Takes 7 or 8 visits to the bank for online issues.
Recently my account was hacked -10 transactions at midnight -no response from fraud dept.

I have banked with Standard Bank for 28 years and for the first time I am at the point where I want to change banks. Shocking service. Not sure why i pay for private banking.

I'm writing this review to express my extreme dissatisfaction with Standard Bank's handling of my situation. As someone who is medically boarded and currently not earning an income, I expected some level of understanding and support from my bank. Unfortunately, that's not what I got.

I had put my property on EasySell with Standard Bank, and after a month, I was advised to continue selling privately. I had a potential buyer and was working with Wasiem Samuels, who told me to submit any offers I received to EasySell. However, when I asked EasySell to check how much I would net on a certain offer, they refused to assist, stating that my property was no longer with EasySell.

To make matters worse, I received an SMS stating that I was now with legal foreclosure. This is despite me keeping the bank informed of my situation and providing all necessary medical documentation. It's unacceptable that Standard Bank would hand me over to legal while I'm struggling to make ends meet and trying to sell my property.

I believe Standard Bank's actions are heartless and lack empathy. I'm calling on Hellopeter to help me get the support I need and to hold Standard Bank accountable for their actions.

Update: I've tried contacting Wasiem Samuels multiple times, but he's never available, and I've received no response. This lack of communication is unacceptable.

I hope that by sharing my experience, I can help others avoid the same struggles I've faced with Standard Bank ¹.

PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY DO YOU HAND ME OVER WHILE IM SELLING AND MENTIONED THAT I AM MEDICALLY BOARDED, NOT EARNING AN INCOME AND UNABLE TO PAY ?

btw. I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THIS ILLNESS WHILE WORKING FOR STANDARD BANK FOR 11 YEARS AND YOU SENDING ME INTO AFRICA. THEN STILL TRIED TO FIRE ME FOR ALL THE SICK LEAVE TAKEN. YES, MY MANAGER, ARIANA SWANEPOEL.

MOST HEARTLESS BANK EVER !!!
CAN I NOT JUST PEACEFULLY SELL THE PROPERTY ?
Standard Bank's policy states that they will try to work with customers who are experiencing financial difficulties, including those who are medically boarded. YET THIS IS HOW YOU TREAT ME

Poor service, I settled my account in July, and now a missed payment reflects on my credit report. I have emailed their offices but no responses received on multiple follow-ups

Standard Bank has the WORST Forex department. Acknowledgement of a request is 24hrs later and the actual exchange / transaction can take up to 3 working days to be completed! This is truely unacceptable service when it incoming payments.

A pathetic bank . Don't bank with them . Use the other banks.

I have been a loyal Standard Bank client for over 10 years, but lately, the service has become extremely disappointing. The waiting times at various branches are getting worse, and it seems the bank is no longer prioritizing customer experience.

Recently, I visited Standard Bank Mid City in Pretoria and Soshanguve Crossing branch,both experiences were frustrating. I had to wait for more than an hour before being assisted because the queues were unbearably long. To make matters worse, when I went home to Limpopo and stopped by Standard Bank Bela Bela, the situation was exactly the same—long queues and over an hour’s wait before receiving any help.

It’s clear that closing down several branches has had a negative impact on service delivery. Standard Bank urgently needs to revisit its branch closure strategy and consider reopening some of them. It’s truly depressing and time-wasting to spend so long just to get basic assistance.

After more than a decade of loyalty, I’m seriously considering moving to another bank. The service quality is deteriorating at an alarming rate, and something needs to be done.

Absolutely appalling service from what should be private banking. Our previous banker went AWOL with no explanation. The new banker came in making promises about improved service. We had one meeting and she promised to get back to us with feedback and having sorted some of the issues we had. Months later we are still WAITING. We also filed insurance claims. They sent assessors for one claim and never came back with feedback. Mind you, they gave the assessor the wrong address. The other claim was not approved because the assessor wrote the report about a thing we had not even claimed for. I would move all my financials to another bank in a heartbeat if I could.

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.