I had heard so many good things about Kiwibank that I’d decided to find out more.
Reading their website, I was impressed, lots of information, telling me what I needed to know, and more. Clear, concise and well laid out. Easy to find information.
Upon ringing their call centre, I got a lovely gentleman who spoke to me for about 10 mins, with the different options of accounts available, home loans, credit card options and so forth. He was fantastic, friendly and a real asset to their team. He informed me that I could go into a branch on a Saturday morning, Sylvia Park, or Botany where the ones closest too me.
Saturday morning, we fronted up at Botany branch, complete with the letters with proof of address, birth certificates for our 5 children, and everything else we had been told that we needed.
Going up to the counter, we were greeted by a man with a ‘trainee’ badge on. No worries, he smiled and asked how he could help. We advised we wanted to open accounts, and he asked how many. I wasn’t entirely sure how that was relevant but answered. He then went off and spoke to his manager, who sent him back to tell us they were too busy. The manager did not come and speak to us at all, prospective new clients, but instead sent the trainee back. Fail. The trainee advised us that they were too busy, and could we come back later.
“Sure,” I replied, “When?”
“Um, maybe 1/2 an hour?”
“OK,” I said, “So we’ll come back in 1/2 an hour?”
“Um, like, maybe an hour?”
“Do you want us back in 1/2 an hour or an hour?”
“Um, I don’t know.” he said, and asked the lady next to him if there were any other branches open. She advised that there was one in Manukau. To which the trainee replied he thought that they didn’t do banking there. A Kiwibank branch that doesn’t do banking?
We said goodbye and left.
What was an awesome start, and an awful finish. I would highly recommend avoiding kiwibank at all costs.
hmm sounds about right. i have found the best thing to do is to phone the branch and make an appointment to open an account (or 5) and that way they have to make time for you because you have that appointment. but from personal experience with kiwi bank they are not the best.
i currently bank with ANZ and they have been great so far. i also have the kids accounts through them as well.
I'm surprised that after one bad experience you'd suggest that people avoid Kiwibank at all costs! I mean every bank/large company is bound to have one branch or CSR who doesn't know what they're talking about but that's hardly a reason to completely avoid the bank all together?
On the other hand – its your loss, Kiwibank's accounts are far superior to ANZ.
Anonymous (i take little interest in comments by 'Anonymous', if you can't stand by your comments…): If that is my local branch, and that is how they deal with new customers, then yes, they lose my service.
And not my loss I'm afraid, my current bank do better then that.
Who by the way, isn't' ANZ, not sure where you got that from? Not from me 🙂
Hi I am the owner of the Botany store (Harjit Dheil) and regret that we did not live up to your service expectations. Saturday is our busiest day and often I need to give priority to customers who have made appointments for their Kiwibank requirements as it is unfair also for them to wait over a walk-in prospect. If you contact me on 027-2732012 I would be happy to provide whatever assuistance I can