Dear Editor – Thanks to the banks for providing an important service. I guess in this day an age we cannot live without banks.
But I am however concerned that some of the services provided by the banks are unsatisfactory. Moreover some of the fees they charge are unreasonable.
For example, recently I deposited a cheque into my bank account at a certain bank. That cheque belongs to that bank. When I asked if I could withdraw the money I was given two options.
Firstly I was told I had to wait for 3 days for the bank to “clear” my cheque. Secondly I was told I could pay $100.00 for “fast clearance”.
To say I was dumbfounded would be an understatement. Any way I was bemused.
In this day and age of advanced technology where information is available at the press of a key, I am surprised that that a bank cannot process a customer’s request within minutes.
I have visited all the banks in Honiara. All of them, except the Charity Bank, have computers. I would have thought that all the information about the cheque I presented was available to the teller.
I thought if the teller simply typed the account number of the cheque, then she would be able to find out if the drawer of the cheque has enough funds to pay me.
Why does the bank need 3 days to “clear” my cheque when all the info they need is at their finger tips? Even their overseas headquarters do not provide such a shoddy service.
Why does the bank demand $100.00 in fast clearance fee? Is it a very difficult task to find out whether a cheque has enough funds in the paying account?
All the banks in Solomon Islands are foreign owned. I have experienced banking in their branches when I was overseas. I can’t believe the poor service and unreasonable fees they are charging Solomon Islanders.
Is there a bank regulator in this country? He or she better wake up and stop the rip-off being done to fellow Solomon Islanders by these foreign owned banks.
Yames Kaka
Rove
