To open a bank account with Kenya's big three banks KCB, BBK or StanChart is a job that calls for sympathy and lots of effort. One is asked for a plethora of documents and while at it referee's who should be account holders at the said bank. Don't be surprised if a birth certificate is required or a letter by your area chief. As if this isn't enough, they will ask you so many questions as if you are prisoner instead of a customer.
By the end of it all and so many days later, you are exhausted and have to wait for the account to be activated, then wait for the ATM card for weeks on end! That was and is still how they operate here, with little or no regard for customer satisfaction. You either put up with them or you take a hike. I will not even go into the loan application process. The thought itself is mind boggling!
While they were in their free money minting zone, they forgot about competition and slept on their laurels. Then one day, a small entity known as Equity Bank came and upset the apple cart and by the time they realised, Equity was amending the game-plan as well as the rules of engagement.
You only needed to fill a form and they would take care of the rest. They take your photo using the latest Motorolla phone or a digital camera in minutes and you have your account up and running! Talk of using the available technology to the maximum.
With the two scenarios, i need not tell you who people decided to walk into if only to spite the old order. Thus, Equity boast a third of all the accounts in the country. With this in mind, i don't think that 1.5M account holders daft to be there. There must be something that equity is doing right.
So when Bonny Khalwale he of the bull-fighting refereeing antics wastes taxpayers money by opening his mouth and demanding that Equity start demanding referees for their new account holders, you can only sympathise with his archaic thought processes. Why, pray i ask, have we cursed ourselves with such a lot full of self-importance that they don't care about the mwananchi trying to make ends meat? I think that as an MP one should try to promote the least bureaucracy if possible to ensure that life goes on and productivity is enhanced. I wouldn't be surprised if that sounds as Greek to him.
That Equity has not responded to him is acknowledges the fact that he deserves to treated with utmost contempt.
Very true MMNJUG, I support your sentiments. But dont you think that criminals and other bad elements might take advantage of Equity's goodwill for the common man to jeopardize security matters though the Equity's otherwise well intentioned account requirements?
ReplyDeleteAnd also MMNJUG, customers deserve some level of customer service in transacting banking services. Ive had the misfortune of queueing at one of their upcountry branches for a cash deposit and it is not a pleasant experience considering the 1.5account holders against the current number of branch network.
Otherwise a very well developed Kenyan institution.
With all due respect to that so called Mr Bonny,he is in the wrong game.If i may ask,is he a cowboy(like the americans)or a matador?I dont know the world he is living today but i guess it must be close to homo habilis age.And with guys like this,dont dream of the 2030 vision.
ReplyDeleteBanks here in US where am based dont require referees.Except for some small credit union banks which deals mostly with giving loans.Thats where you need referees.You just pop in with your ID,get an account opened and in 3 days you get an ATM card.
As one Phil has just raised a case of having controlled banking coz of the criminals,tell me who steals from who?If the banks @ home charges ATM withdral fees(is it Ksh 40?)whats the use of the ATM and the million dollar question is WHY PAY TO GET YOUR MONEY?This is stealing.Try that here in US and see what happens.One only get charged ATM fees when using other ATM facilities other than your banks and thats common sense.Money laundering??The likes of Bonny and political connect businessmen and rarely Wanjiku do that.For what and why and from where?Wanjiku's only way to "launder" money is staging the armed bank robberies.Thats why they are all making billions in profits.Mr Bonny should know that BANKING ISNT A PRESERVE OF THE RICH.All i say,GO TO HELL BONNY!
Long live EQUITY bank.