Banking Madness

I just returned from HSBC. Failed to open a savings account again.

As I have predicted, I need to make more than 2 trips to get it done.

I guess insanity is a required skill to blend into the system here, if you are too sane and wish everything will be as smooth as in Singapore, you will go crazy.

I use the HSBC Egypt online form to send them a request to open a savings account, I got a automatic reply saying that the staff will contact me in few days.

2 weeks later....I got a call from them...in my dream.

So I decided to visit the branch this morning and brave myself through the jungle of uncertainty and time wasting.

First, the security give me the wrong queue number to the wrong counter even I told him short and clear " I want to open savings account".

Then, my first application was rejected because I don't have company letter to verify my residential address. The staff told me "Get a letter from your HR"

I went back to office and drafted my own letter and let the HR staff to verify and sign, because I asked for the letter and they give me the leasing contract instead. :(

Then I went back to HSBC "happily", and returned "more happily".

The staff this time checked everything, and tell me "Signature not the same". They want the bank record signature from the authorised person in the company. Why they didn't tell me the first time?

One thing good about the bank, the staff provide a friendly service and was apologetic.

If this is for credit account or checking account I can understand. I just want a bloody personal savings account and I can't and wouldn't run away with 10LE bank money.

This is the guideline to those lucky foreign souls who bump into my blog and decided to open an savings account in Egypt.
- Get a proper company letter: Exact company name and address as in the bank record
- Specify your rented apartment address in the letter.
- Get an authorised signature as keep in the bank record. So, in another words, I don't think you able to open an account if your company do not have a corporate account in the bank.
- Go there early, usual banking hours is 8:30am until 5pm
- Ask the security when he give you a queue number : " I don't want to rob the bank, I only want to open a savings account. You sure you give me the right counter queue?" Anyway, I realised that for HSBC, you will go to "Customer Service" section to open your account. Don't ask me why.
- Be very alert, watch out for your queue number on the display board. It will only display once in like 2 seconds and the next number will be called. I missed my queue...I was sleepy :p The display board is poorly located. Some are behind pillar.

Well, wish me luck, tomorrow I will go to the bank again. They told me the account can be reay in 5minutes.

Ya right, my whiteboard still haven't fixed yet since last week when my office assistance told me....ok 5 MINUTES!

Si Beh Sian lor.....

-VINcE